BOOK REVIEW: Legendary British fight figure Mickey Duff called him: “The most outstanding boxer from this county never to have fought for the world title.” Former flyweight champion Charlie Magri said of him: “He was fantastic. He should have earned a fortune.” Terry Lawless, London manager of world champions John H. Stracey, Maurice Hope and Magri, reflected: “He’s probably the most gifted boxer I have ever managed, different to everyone else. I’ve never seen people do things like him.”
Born in England in 1942. Life as a boxing writer began with a weekly column in a newspaper called the South London Advertiser in the early 1960s. Moved to the far bigger-circulation South London Press, writing a twice-weekly boxing section, in 1966. Joined the weekly Boxing News in 1970 and became editor in 1972. Moved across the pond in 1977 for marriage-related reasons and covered the American scene for Boxing News until joining Boxing Monthly in 1990.
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SOTO was too strong. / Photo: CHRIS FARINA, Top Rank
In a Pacquiao-Hatton undercard of favourites beating up opponents, the highlight was Benoit Gaudet’s game losing stand against Humberto Soto.
Although Soto predictably retained his WBC super featherweight title, it took him nine rounds, longer than most people expected, and Gaudet fought with such skill and spirit that one judge actually had him in front after eight rounds. (I was on the same page as judge Jerry Roth, who had Soto far in front, although whereas Roth had the fight a shutout I did give Gaudet a round.)
The Canadian Olympic representative from Quebec landed a good number of right hands flush on the chin, and his jab worked beautifully at times.
Gaudet’s problem, though, was that he couldn’t hurt Soto or keep the Mexican fighter off of him. The French-Canadian was able to outbox Soto at certain moments, but he wasn’t winning the fight. Soto bullied him and beat him on strength, punching power and big-fight experience. Still, I didn’t think that Soto was all that impressive and at times he seemed almost ordinary, although Gaudet’s constant movement made it frustrating for the rather mechanical Mexican.
Gaudet made a quick recovery from a flash knockdown in the opening round and by the middle rounds a full-distance fight looked possible.
Gradually, though, Soto’s pressure had Gaudet showing fatigue, and when a right uppercut took the challenger by surprise and dropped him in a heap in the ninth the fight was as good as over.
Gaudet tried to box and move after taking the eight count, but his legs could no longer take him out of trouble, and when Soto sent him reeling into the ropes with a right hand it was the end of a gallant challenge. Gaudet fell limply into his own corner just as referee Jay Nady waved the finish.
Soto got the job done, and the finish was impressive, but for me Gaudet’s brave and skilled resistance was the story of the fight.
