Bobby Pacquiao - Humberto Soto. Your Predictions?

By Ed de la Vega, DDS
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 31 May 2007

Los Angeles, CA -- It would not be too difficult to surmise why the media people at Bob Arum’s Top Rank Promotions picked old town Los Angeles as the site to hype the June 9th BobPac-Soto encounter. They obviously wanted to underscore the “Mexican connection” of their protégé, Humberto Soto and attract more Latinos to view the fight, live or on HBO PPV.

Thus, they picked a nice cozy restaurant called El Paseo Inn to hold the BobPac-Soto press conference. The place is located right smack in the middle of Old Town LA, north of the present downtown Los Angeles.

Old Town LA, better known to locals as “Olvera Street” has a Mexican theme. Being there feels like being in a typical Mexican pueblo, complete with a plaza, year-round festive atmosphere and packed with open air shops and nice eateries. On many instances, particularly on week-ends, mariachi music surrounds the area.

But, the ostensible emphasis on the “Mexican connection", did not seem to faze Bobby Pacquiao. “Wala yan sa akin”, (That does not mean anything to me) he said. “Kahit saan nila dalhin, okay lang sa akin”. (Its okay by me wherever they take it) he added.

The event was BobPac’s first formal meeting with Humberto Soto. And, judging from the atmosphere during the press conference, Soto better not look past BobPac and set his sights too early towards the other Pacquiao, Manny ”Pacman” Pacquiao. Besides, there are many others wanting a piece of the Pacman, so even if Soto beats Bobby, he still has to get on queue like everybody else.

“I respect him as a fighter and it’s nice to know that he respects me too. But I hope he really looks past me. Then he will find out why certain Mexican boxers bring the best in the Pacquiaos”, Bobby emphasized to this writer.

Bob Arum unfortunately missed the event. The plane he was in had engine trouble and sat at the Las Vegas airport tarmac for an hour without ventilation. Poor Bob was not able to take it and he deplaned and thus missed the presscon.

Bill Caplan and Fernando Beltran however took control and the presscon went on as scheduled. What was so good about it was the fact that the boxers who were there, BobPac, Humberto Soto and Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr were perfect gentlemen. There was no trash talk. Soto and BobPac showed lots of respect for each other.

Incidentally, Top Rank dubbed the fight card as “X-plosive”, an obvious anticipation of the “fireworks” expected to happen that night particularly on the four televised fights, Cotto-Judah; BobPac-Soto; Chavez-Wiley; and Thompson-Foreman.

Bobby Pacquiao is set to leave for New York on June 4th in preparation for his tiff with Soto at the famed Madison Square Garden (MSG) on Saturday, June 9th.

BobPac is very familiar with the MSG. It was there where he KO’d Kevin Kelly last June 10, 2006, a fight no one expected him to win let alone via a devastating knock-out punch in the mid-section of Kelly.

Many pundits in the sweet science are expecting the fight as a tune up for Soto and not too many seem to believe that Bobby Pacquiao can pull this one off. But then again, they all had that thought before BobPac fought Kelly and Famoso Hernandez.

They can all be wrong again!

There is a saying that goes: “it’s lovelier the second time around”. This fight, being Bobby’s second big one at the MSG may turn out that way too.

Let’s just wait and see.

:boxing2:

I got Soto winning by mid round TKO. Then Manny will avenge his lil' bro next year.

I know it's too early to tell, but I got Manny winning against Soto by late round KO.

Yeah I think Soto will knock him out as well, that's if Bobby even makes the weight.

Soto by stoppage, I think Bobby takes an asskicking in this one, Soto's much better IMO.

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Originally Posted by OumaFan

Soto by stoppage, I think Bobby takes an asskicking in this one, Soto's much better IMO.

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Yeah I'm of the same opinion as you. Soto's a top fighter!

Gotta go with Soto on this one, I'll say by decision with Bobby getting knocked down at least once. It'll take Manny Pacquaio to beat Soto, not Bobby.

I'll give credit to Bobby, he has improved drastically since the first time I saw him on the undercard of JLC - Chico II. But Soto is top flight, very awkward guy who punches from all angles and lands. I think it's a fun fight while it last, and close early but Soto takes it in the middle rounds.

I've become a big Soto fan and I favour him to win this easily imo. He' has been getting better and better and would be a handful for anyone in the division. He's the darkhorse. Tall,strong,can take a punch,excellent jab and som good power and combinations. Also uses some nice lateral movement,it's subtle but it creates angles.

Soto 4th rd. TKO but not before Bobby commits a foul or two.

Soto will kill him. This is almost a mismatch imo.

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Originally Posted by p4pking

Soto will kill him. This is almost a mismatch imo.

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It is a mismatch... BIG time!

It is so obvious what's Bob Arum have in mind.

He wants people to see the mega-fight/mega-buck event in titled "Vengeance" or something like that ;D

Soto might ko bobby but i'm willing to bet bobby ko's soto's nuts beforehand ;D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by CutMeMick

Soto 4th rd. TKO but not before Bobby commits a foul or two.

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Yeah, ball crashing fouls ;D