Berto Stunned by Soto Karass; Keith Thurman Drills Chaves Into Submission

   Photo: Tom Casino / Showtime

One left hook. That was all it took to end the longstanding myth of Andre Berto (28-3, 22 KOs). A myth that had been promulgated by a myriad of promoters, television networks and managers. Now, it’s all over… Jesus Soto Karass (28-8-3, 17 KOs) has stunned the boxing public and continued a career resurgence that has left many dumbfounded. He was supposed to be a journeyman that couldn’t get it done on the big stage. He proved those notions wrong. Over 12 hard fought rounds, he withstood Andre Berto’s best and ended up unleashing a beautiful left hook that stopped the career of a man once tapped for greatness in the 12^th round.

Berto started the first round looking to maintain previous traits. The shoulder roll and right hands were still there, but so was the inadequate defense that Karass quickly capitalized on. He stunned the former champion with a right hand in the first and kept up the pressure throughout much of the fight. Berto eventually recovered through the middle portion of the fight and began to exert himself with the harder punches. However, Karass  never stopped coming forward and Berto continued to offer him opportunities to reassert himself in the fight.

However, Berto appeared to have finally found headway in the 8^th and 9^th rounds in which he clubbed Karass with pounding right hands that the Mexican challenger appeared to struggle with. Perhaps, Berto was on the verge of gutting out a fight that he desperately needed. Alas, Karass proved himself far too tough for a fighter that had relished on easy fights and hand wrapped decisions. Karass came back in the tenth and finally found himself with the opportunity of a lifetime… a perfect left hook that dropped Andre Berto and prompted the referee to call a halt to the bout. An upset was had and a journeyman had graduated to contender. Meanwhile, a once gifted prospect and champion had felt the cold feel of defeat. Boxing in the 21^st century.

Keith Thurman Drills Chaves Into Submission

Keith Thurman (26-0, 19 KOs) had built up a heady reputation among internet fans for his lofty power capabilities, but there was serious doubts about his boxing abilities. Consider those concerns lifted as Thurman proceeded to walk past early difficulties and deliver a resounding 10^th round stoppage against respected contender Diego Chaves (22-1, 18 KOs). Thurman claimed a WBA interim belt in his performance, but more importantly, he claimed a victory that furthered his career as a potential star to watch.

Chaves dominated the first three rounds with ubiquitous right hands that seemed to befuddle Thurman. However, Thurman eventually adjusted and seemed to scare Chaves with a big left hook in the fourth round. After that, Chaves seemed to retreat into a simple effort to land one big right hand, but Thurman proved himself adept at adjusting his game plan and countering Chaves’ rudimentary efforts. It was a resounding performance from a fighter who had built a reputation as a puncher, but showed that he has much more to offer. Thurman managed to drop Chaves with a body shot in the ninth that clearly affected the Argentinian. After that, Chaves seemed timid and Thurman clearly capitalized. He offered a blitzkrieg offense in the 10^th round that eventually forced another knockout and an eventual stoppage. Thurman had withstood early struggles to notch a needed victory on his resume.  After the fight, Thurman offered a stiff challenge to another Argentinian… Marcos Maidana, “In boxing you never know what’s next, I’d like to fight another Argentinian. Maidana, he’s been ducking me for a year”.

Source: 3 more rounds