JESUS SOTO KARASS TKO8 DAVID ESTRADA

There was a great opening act for the Margarito-Cotto show the night before in Las Vegas when Jesus Soto Karass stopped David Estrada in the eighth round of their welterweight war.

I was on site at the Hard Rock casino hotel and from ringside I thoroughly enjoyed this tough, intense and absorbing battle for the vacant NABF title.

After seven rounds I had Soto Karass winning, but with Estrada very much in the fight. I had the sense, though, that Estrada was gradually wearing out. He fought gamely and had his successes, especially when he went to the body, but Soto Karass just kept coming right back at him. In the war of attrition, Soto Karass seemed to be the one who was giving and taking just that bit better, although the finish in round eight, when he knocked Estrada down, was startling in its suddenness.

Margarito backers who believe in omens might have seen one that was favourable to them, because Soto Karass is in the Margarito camp, trained by Javier Capetillo, while Estrada had Cotto’s uncle and trainer, Evangelista, in his corner.