Keith “One Time” Thurman: “I’m more than just a puncher”

11/02/201311/01/2013 Joseph Herron

_MG_0970 Photo and video courtesy of Carlos Sacriste

Every fighter at the world class level gets tested, in which they’re forced to prove their mental and physical durability. It’s what truly separates the good from the elite.

Interim WBA Welterweight title holder Keith “One Time” Thurman was given that proverbial “trial by fire” in his last outing against hard punching Argentine Diego Chaves, and passed the toughest test of his professional career with flying colors.

On December 14th, in San Antonio, Texas, the 24 year old fighter insists that the boxing world will see even more from “One Time” when he steps in the ring with rugged fight veteran Jesus Soto Karass.

Jesus Soto Karass: Give This Man A World Title Shot!

07/28/2013 James Slater

Last night in San Antonio was quite simply boxing at its very best. The Golden Boy card – surely the leading candidate for Card Of The Year (if there is such an award) – gave us three, count them, three, great fights; two of which are definite FOTY candidates. With the televised opener (at least it was on BoxNation, and how grateful should UK fight fans be for that channel picking up last night’s card!) we had a very good fight in Keith Thurman-Diego Chaves, while with the two epics that were Omar Figueroa-Nihito Arakawa and Jesus Soto Karass-Andre Berto we had unforgettable action delivered by way of two breathtaking slugfests.

The WBC interim lightweight battle was truly awesome, with both guys hammering away at each other with scarcely a jab or anything resembling a clinch in sight all night. That fight may not be topped as far as 2013’s FOTY award goes, but last night’s main event sure came close. Andre Berto, once looked at as a star and a future pound-for-pound talent, showed a ton of heart in his must-win war with Mexican warrior Soto Karass, but he didn’t win. A huge setback, the 12th-round TKO may well have ended Berto’s chances of being an elite fighter.

Post-Fight Press Conference: Berto vs. Soto Karass, Chaves vs. Thurman & Fight Summaries

07/28/2013 Steve Lopez

The city of San Antonio was treated to another excellent night of boxing with Knockout Kings II. Thurman, Figueroa and Soto-Karass scored impressive wins in fights that tested the will, heart and determination for all six fighters. After a night like this, it would be no surprise if fans are already looking forward to Knockout Kings III!

As with most contests, there are winners and losers. Thurman’s performance earned him the Knockout Bonus Prize as he dispatched Chaves in 10 rounds. The bonus was no easy task to win for Thurman as the Argentina fighter tested him early in the fight causing Thurman to adjust in the second part of the bout en-route to a 10th round knockout.

Photos / Video: Soto Karass knocks out Andre Berto, Keith Thurman KOs Diego Chaves

07/28/2013 Showtime Boxing

Jesus “Renuente” Soto Karass knocked out Andre Berto, Keith Thurman was dubbed Knockout King, but Omar Figueroa and Nihito Arakawa stole the show Saturday night on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING.

Soto Karass scored a 12th round technical knockout victory over a remarkably resilient Berto in front of 8,811 fans in the main event on SHOWTIME at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas.

In an event dubbed Knockout Kings II, Soto Karass came out of the gate strong, establishing and displaying his power against Berto, who injured his right shoulder in the early rounds of the fight and was essentially limited to his left hand for the majority of the bout.

Andre Berto: I think I tore my right shoulder out of the socket

07/29/201307/28/2013 Rob Smith

Andre Berto (28-3, 22 KO’s) complains that he may have torn his right shoulder out of the socket early in his fight against Jesus Soto Karass (28-8-3, 18 KO’s) last night at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. Berto was knocked out in the 12th round after getting hit with a left hook at the same time he was throwing a punch of his own.

The shot deposited Berto on the canvas. He was able to get up by referee Jon Schorle stopped it immediately at 0:48 of the round. Berto didn’t like the quick stoppage and felt that he should have been given standing 8 count rather than having the fight halted without him having the chance to collect himself.

The fight was a draw at the time of the stoppage with one judge scoring it 105-103 for Berto, another 105-103 for Soto Karass and the third judge scoring it 114-114 even.

Soto Karass KOs Andre Berto; Thurman stops Chaves

07/28/201307/27/2013 Kevin Chittenden

Andre Berto’s career could be pretty much over tonight after he was stopped in the 12th round by Jesus Soto Karass (28-8-3, 18 KO’s) AT&T Center, in San Antonio, Texas, USA. Soto Karass hit Berto with a left hand to the head that put him down on the canvas in the 12th.

Although Berto got back to his feet quickly, the fight was immediately stopped by the referee after he saw how Berto was on rubber legs with a ton of time still left in the round.It’s a good thing that Soto Karass stopped Berto, because he might have been on the receiving end of a controversial decision loss.

At the time of the stoppage, the judges had it 105-103 for Berto, 114-114 even and 105-103 for Soto Karass. I don’t know how you could watch this fight and see Berto ahead.

Berto in crucial fight against Soto Karass tonight

07/27/2013 Bill Phanco

(Photo credit: Steve Lopez) Andre Berto’s once promising career has come crashing down with his recent defeats against Victor Ortiz and Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero, and he’s now literally in a situation tonight where he can’t afford to lose to Jesus Soto Karass (27-8-3, 17 KO’s) if he wants to stay at the top of the welterweight division among the other names.

A loss to Soto Karass tonight could put Berto into a category where he’s little more than a gatekeeper in the 147 lb. division. Soto Karass is the type of fighter that the top welterweights are supposed to be able to beat, and if Berto can’t beat him then he’s going to have to make a hard decision about the direction of his career.

Weigh-In: Berto – Soto Karass, Figueroa – Arakawa, Thurman – Chaves

07/27/201307/26/2013 Steve Lopez

(Photo credit: Steve Lopez) Trim, fit and ready to go. The Knockout Kings are ready to put on a show in Texas.

Deep in the south of San Antonio, TX was the setting for the weigh in for Knockout Kings II. Typically, weigh-ins are held in front of arenas, theatres, public monuments or even indoor malls. San Antonio decided to be a little different and rugged this time and opted to host the weight-in in a sort of old-fashioned way in front of an HEB grocery food store.

Regards less of where it was held, the fans came out to show plenty of support along with members of the media for coverage. It just goes to show you that the Texas fans are willing to support the sport, even in a parking lot of a grocery store. All they need is a stage, loud music and beer models. Fans are ready to fill up the AT&T Center this Saturday 07/27/13 night!

Knockout Kings II Final Press Conference: Berto – Soto Karass, Figueroa-Arakawa and Thurman-Chaves

07/26/2013 Steve Lopez

Knockout Kings are back in San Antonio, TX!

Showtime Championship Boxing returns to the culturally-rich city of San Antonio, TX to host a tripleheader that is sure to produce fireworks. “Knockout Kings II” will feature Keith Thurman VS. Diego Chaves, Omar Figueroa, Jr., VS Nihito Arakawa and Andre Berto VS. Soto Karass as the headliner.

The final press conference for the event was held on 07/27/13. The title for this card has the word “knockout” in it for a reason: all the fighters in the televised tripleheader have the ability and desire to end it via KO rather than going to the scorecards. One reason is perhaps the fact that Oscar De La Hoya will indeed grant a bonus to the fighter who will score the most spectacular knockout of the evening. This can only be a good thing for fight fans attending and watching the fight nationwide. With every fighter looking at scoring that extra bonus, it’s hard to pick which fight will steal the show.

Soto Karass plans on punishing Berto this Saturday

07/25/2013 Bill Phanco

berto4 Former IBF/WBC welterweight champion Andre Berto (28-2, 22 KO’s) has a real fight on his hands this Saturday night against the tough Mexican fighter Jesus Soto Karass (27-8-3, 17 KO’s) at the AT&T Center, in San Antonio, Texas. Berto, 29 is in a weakened position having lost two out of his last three fights.

Berto is coming off one of his poor performances of his 9 year pro career in losing by a fairly wide 12 round unanimous decision to Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero last November. Berto is now facing a carbon copy of Guerrero’s fighting style in 30-year-old Soto Karass and thing could go badly for Berto on Saturday unless he can find his way back to his prime years of his career back in 2010.