ESPN FNF: Herrera vs Soto Karass

Yep..Soto Karass is still fighting. Would have liked to see him walk away after Kamegai battered him last out but ever the stubborn battler who shows his wear and tear on his sleeve he carries on vs Mauricio Herrera tonight, another also trying to remain relevant. Hard to believe its only been 3+ since Herrera was being screwed over in Danny Garcia decision.

Co feature has Vyacheslav Shabranskyy making his way back after being knocked out by Sullivan Barrera in Dec as he fights one Todd Unthank May 10-0-1 out of Philly PA. Interesting name but he'll need a ladder to climb out of this experience hole if a motivated Shabranskyy shows up. Also 10-0 Jonathan Navarro fights Angel Sarinana jr welters.

Good test for Sandoval in the 1st fight here.

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Originally Posted by Alpha

Good test for Sandoval in the 1st fight here.

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Are you on the Spanish version, delayed? Right now it's Shaba and May starting 1st. Ah bummer no Teddy. I don't think he and Hopkins get along :-X

Clean punches landed by both in 1st, Shabranskyy with the forward momentum and good body shots. Unthank-May looking for the counter off his constant energy. May cut, Shaba reddening around eyes in 2nd. Good two way action

May literally a step and 6 inches behind what Shaba is bringing so far. Collecting bigger shots in 3rd and left eye closing and bleeding good. Came to fight but just a slight slowing by May now as Shaba wings wide punches. 3-0 Shabranskyy

Can see the subtle cleverness in May at times, small shoulder rolls and counter uppercuts. Philly bred. Shabranskyy with the slightly swollen cheek bone now but pouring it on 4th.

Hopkins with the unique take..."So B Hop what's it like fighting while swallowing your own blood"..."Its like constipation in a whole new way" ;D. May is a tough one, thoroughly outgunned in majority of spots though.

Unthank-May really takes a pounding down the stretch it is stopped in corner after 7th. Matter of levels.

Jaime Solorio 7-3-2 taking on Niko Valdes 5-0 (5) spr middles up now.

Lets just say Solorio has a lot of um guts. Valdes likes to come in with low hands and bit lackadaisical.

Valdes giving him too much respect really. Solorio whips about 8 wide slaps to his body and Valdes backs straight up and puts on the ear muffs on. Big platform for Valdes here..do work!

Solorio has won the crowd, well half of it. Have him winning the 5th as Valdes is acting like a tired fighter. Should be wide win for Valdes but they need to stop all the talk about him putting on weight. Have we officially retired the Corona girls because the Tecate girls are blowing them away lately. Just has to be said :lickish:

Have to root for Soto Karass here, always a real warrior. Only thing with fights like this is that the winner will obviously be thrown in over their head to pad some young guns record at this stage. Even more so with GBP :-X.

Good 1st round Herrera, body head body head off solid movement. Matter of staying a step ahead and out of the alley. Soto Karass with occasional long shot here in 2nd. Herrera looks stockier than I remember, nice stabbing jab to the body to end 2nd. Tough round there

Heating up nicely in the 2nd round here.

JSK looking better than I expected. They match up well.

Man Herrera is sneaky. Good work by him 3rd until Soto Karass lands to body twice last minute. Actually pretty gritty contest of body work as it goes..both whipping in sharp upper shots to gut. Closer round lean Soto Karass

Bad spot for Herrera just camping in that corner here. Not so fluid on those feet in 4th. Good sneak shots by both and Herrera trying to put the power on it. Shit, fun round.

Herrera scoring with some nice counters. Timing JSK perfectly at times.

Herrera back to stabbing the body and shortened up combos. Soto Karass getting longer with the misses and Herrera near picking spots end of 5th.

JSK throwing leather hard to end that round. Didn't connect cleanly with too many but the pressure was there.

Herrera almost getting cocky mid 6th, backs away hands open. Looks a tad heavy breathing here with Soto Karass finding the long right hands but putting them together. Gave that one to him.

Soto Karass showing his glove open to his corner there while he was on ropes ??? Not sure what that was. Herrera back on the gas, very good mix of punches by Herrera and nice head movement.

Trouble loading Saddo's

6th was back and forth with both guys getting work done.

7th had both guys opening up. Herrera in the pocket using lateral movement to avoid damage. Fun fight.

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Originally Posted by Alpha

Trouble loading Saddo's

6th was back and forth with both guys getting work done.

7th had both guys opening up. Herrera in the pocket using lateral movement to avoid damage. Fun fight.

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Likewise, just dropped twice and dragging a bit. Hope we paid the utility bill this month ;D. Herrera turning southpaw 8th, very crafty and overall in control. How this guy lost to Pablo Cano last out no idea. Soto Karass needs to do something huge

Soto Karass comes on last part 9th, moving Herrera on ropes and again with huge long right! Herrera punches off his heel there and cut now.

Fantastic 9th. Both guys trading. Herrera cut by a left hook.

Excellent fight. Credit to both guys. 10th was all action. So many close rounds in here.

This waiting off the ropes by Herrera can easily be overlooked for Soto Karass volume and leads, great scrap in 10th and give and take affair. Damn son, no backward steps here. Quality stuff both! Scores might be all over the place..

Both warriors.

I think JSK might have sneaked it. Could go either way.

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Originally Posted by Alpha

Both warriors.

I think JSK might have sneaked it. Could go either way.

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Agree there, bit of a pick your poison style wise as it went late. Give em a bonus

Scores at 96-94 x2...95-95 winner maj. dec Herrera. Cannot argue that but Soto Karass earns another go

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Originally Posted by Spicoli

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Originally Posted by Alpha

Both warriors.

I think JSK might have sneaked it. Could go either way.

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Agree there, bit of a pick your poison style wise as it went late. Give em a bonus

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This has been said a million times before but these are the guys that should be earning big $$$.

I'm gald a close one went to Herrera for a change. Rematch?

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Originally Posted by Spicoli

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Originally Posted by Alpha

Both warriors.I think JSK might have sneaked it. Could go either way.

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Agree there, bit of a pick your poison style wise as it went late. Give em a bonus

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Good fight. I also thought Soto Karass won by a round or a draw. Victor Ortiz or Brandon Rios vs. Soto Karass or Herrera next I say.

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Originally Posted by Alpha

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Originally Posted by Spicoli

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Originally Posted by Alpha

Both warriors.

I think JSK might have sneaked it. Could go either way.

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Agree there, bit of a pick your poison style wise as it went late. Give em a bonus

---

This has been said a million times before but these are the guys that should be earning big $$$.

I'm gald a close one went to Herrera for a change. Rematch?

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Definitely wouldn't mind it. Herrera would do well to milk next 'opponent' role for as much as he can get. Good thing is Soto Karass will make some coin off this also. For a second I found myself thinking..'surely Danny Garcia needs a come back opponent, what better way to erase that asterisk on his record' :-X.

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Originally Posted by Alpha

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Originally Posted by Spicoli

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Originally Posted by Alpha

Both warriors.

I think JSK might have sneaked it. Could go either way.

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Agree there, bit of a pick your poison style wise as it went late. Give em a bonus

---

This has been said a million times before but these are the guys that should be earning big $$$.

I'm gald a close one went to Herrera for a change. Rematch?

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Exactly. If Mayweather came back against Herrera I would have a lot more respect. A decent pro who gives a good accunt in every fight and an old man in a last hurrah. It wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. Instead what do you get? :rolleyes: