Photo Credit: Tom Casino/SHOWTIME
San Antonio, TX – In front of a packed crowd at the AT&T center (8,811 in attendance) Jesus Soto Karass (28-8-3, 18KO’s) scored an upset over Andre Berto (28-3, 22 KO’s) in the Main Event of the evening. Jesus Soto Karass started the fight very aggressive, practically bum rushing Berto from the opening bell and found success landing several power punches. Karass seemed to frustrate Berto early on in the fight landing most of his punches. In the mid rounds Berto took a nasty fall which resulted in an injury to his shoulder, he would tell Jim Gray that he believed he injured it in the fourth round. Despite fighting with a visibly injured shoulder Berto was able to rally in the later rounds and would eventually put Karass on the canvas in the 11th round with a body shot. Despite the knockdown, Karass started the 12th and final round very aggressive and landed a left hook which sent Berto to the canvas. Berto was able to quickly bounce back to his feet but was on shaky legs. The referee felt Berto was not able to continue and called a halt to the fight (:48) without giving an eight count. With the victory Jesus Soto Karass claimed the vacant NABF Welterweight Championship.
In the Co-Main event which displayed everything a boxing fan could ask for, Omar Figueroa Jr. (22-0-1, 17 KO’s) def NihitoArakawa (24-3-1, 16 KO’s) via majority decision 118-108 twice and 119-107. Both fighters threw for combined 2,112 punches and at times had the fans in the entire AT&T center at their feet. Figueroa Jr’s was able to put Arakawa on the canvas twice ( 2nd, 6th Rd) but was unable to knock out despite hurting Arakawa very badly on both occasions. After the fight Figueroa said he wanted this type of fight, “I wanted this kind of fight, I wanted a tough fight and I wanted to see what it felt like to get cut. I got both in this fight”. Figueroa also revealed that he had hurt his hands in the second or third round, he didn’t reveal it to his corner until later in the fight. “I hurt them early, I didn’t want to tell my coach’s and I didn’t want to worry my dad. I fought through it but I figured I should tell them because I wasn’t throwing up to par and what we are used to so I figured I had to tell them”.
Keith Thurman improved his record to (21-0, 19 KO’s) with a tenth round KO (28 seconds) over a very game and undefeated DiegoChaves of Argentina. Chaves showed a very durable chin being able to withstand all of Thurmans power shots early in the fight while catching Thurman with shots of his own. In the 3rd rd. Chaves landed a shot to the face of Thurman which did some noticeable damage to his nose . Thurman made adjustments from that point on. “I moved in and out and that’s what we wanted to do and later in the fight I was able to catch him with that beautiful body shot” stated Thurman. Thurman started the 10th round with momentum landing vicious shots which floored Chaves again. Chaves was not able to beat the 10 count leaving Thurman victorious via KO, DiegoChaves falls to (22-1, 18 KO’s). With the victory, Keith Thurman is now the undefeated interim WBA welterweight champion.
