On December 14th, Jesus Soto Karass (28-8 18KOs) will once again get shot at the world title when he takes on Keith “One Time” Thurman (21-0 19KOs). In Karass’ last time out; he went to battle with Andre Berto as the headlining fight that did not disappoint. Karass in his previous title fight was stopped by Marcos Maidana but rebounded with victories over Selcuk Aydin and Andre Berto. Both Karass and Thurman appeared on the same card in July in San Antonio. Karass said that although his focus was on Berto that night and he didn’t watch Thurman vs. Chavez, he is still ready for whatever Thurman brings. “I was getting ready for Berto, and that was-my concentration was for that fight. But it wasn’t until after the fight that I talked to my manager, Francisco Espinoza, and Golden Boy, and the opportunity came to fight Keith Thurman and I said yes. I do what I always do, I prepare, and I’m always ready for anybody, and that’s what happened in this fight. I’m excited for the opportunity. I’ve been waiting for this, and I’m getting ready like never before, kind of like I did for Berto.”
Thurman is a fighter that has recently sprung onto the scene and he has fought good opposition climbing up the rankings. Karass admits that he hasn’t watched any film on Thurman but he does understand what type of fighter he is and the position he is in, Karass stated, “What I do know is that he’s young and he’s strong and he’s hungry, and we’re both pretty much in the same position. We’re ready for major fights. Yes, he’s a world champion, an interim world champion, but I feel that both of us are not going to back down, and we’re ready for the bigger fights, and for the world title fight. So this is a good opportunity for me, and I just feel that I have to win this fight so I can take is back to Los Mochis.”
In Thurman’s last fight, Diego Chavez proved to be a good challenger until Thurman’s power caught up to him in the tenth and he was stopped. Karass is a fighter that every time out you can count on a couple of things, he will come to win and he will stand in front of you. Thurman has not yet been in the ring with the type of fighter that could take his power and keep the pressure. Karass thinks that there are many factors that will contribute to him winning but it’s his come forward fighting style and his ability to take a punch will be the deciding factor in the fight.
“I’ve been a fighter that’s been characterized as an aggressive fighter that likes to go toe-to-toe, but lately I’ve been boxing a little bit more, I’ve been a little smarter, a little more intelligent, that’s what I’ve been working in the ring. But as always, as always, if it comes down to it, I have the balls to go toe-to-toe if I need to, then obviously it’s going to favor me, and I feel that I’m accustomed to that style and I’m going to do what it takes to win” he continued “obviously there’s a little bit of skill involved, and a game plan to be smart, and that’s always going to be in the back of my mind.”
