JESUS SOTO KARASS KNOCKS OUT ANDRE BERTO

The former mentioned opponent for Floyd Mayweather, Andre Berto appears to be in the midst of a downward spiral. After losing to Jesus Soto Karass last night by KO in a tough welterweight battle, Berto has now lost three out of his last four bouts. He did not appear to show any benefits or significant improvements with new trainer Virgil Hunter last night at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, TX.

Berto, despite a valiant effort, where he essentially fought with one arm for the majority of the fight was stopped in the 12th round last night. Although the judges at the time had the fight a split draw, I felt Soto Karass was clearly winning and doing the most damage in the fight. After suffering a knockdown in the 11th round from a borderline boddy shot from Berto, Karass was able to finish off that round strong further damaging Berto.

After the fight, Berto indicated he tore something in his right shoulder early in the fight, which is just another negative circumstance he has had to try and overcome in the past couple years and he is subsequently at a crossroads in his career. After winning his first 27 fights, the talented Berto has since lost tough fights in 2011 to Victor Ortiz, in 2012 to Robert Guerrero, and now against Jesus Soto Karass; all of which were fights Berto sustained a lot of damage. Along with a suspension in May, 2012 for use of a banned substance just prior to a rematch with Victor Ortiz, and a previous injury to his left bicep, the 29 yearold Berto appears to be on his way out of boxing, or at least seemingly so.

I will say, however, there is no questioning his heart. Despite losing some tough fights and being battered in those losses, the guy will not quit. It just seems he is overmatched in the welterweight division, even lacking some confidence in the ring in my opinion. For whatever reason, it seems as though he is not focused on the task at hand until he faces some form of adversity in the ring. I can’t put my finger on it, but despite his high level of talent and skill, Berto can’t put things together completely to be one of boxing’s elite. Time will tell, but I don’t see him being much more than a tough B level fighter at this point. Should he hang’em up? I will let you tell it.

In an absolutely brutal war that stole the show, Omar “Panterita” Figueroa won a wildly exciting 12-round unanimous decision (118-108 twice, 119-107) over the game Nihito Arakawa to capture the vacant WBC Interim Lightweight World Championship.

In what will surely be a Fight of the Year candidate, Figueroa (22-0-1, 17 KO’s) and Arakawa (24-3-1, 16 KO’s) threw 2,112 total punches over 36 minutes of non-stop action. While Arakawa threw 1,170 punches, he landed just 280 to Figueroa’s 480. Figueroa, who was cut on the nose from an accidental head-butt in the third, landed power shots, knocked down Arakawa twice and at times seemed to have his opponent out on his feet.