Mexican hardman Cesar Soto turned professional as a teenager, learned on the job and eventually won the world title at the age of 27. The sturdy, powerful teak punch was invaluable to everyone he fought during his 90 fights spread over a 25-year professional career.

Soto, who was the 10th of 12 children, was born on September 17, 1971 in Durango state. His father worked several jobs, including as a ranch hand, and his mother took care of the family.

“We were a very hard-working, very humble family,” Soto told The Ring via Mauricio Gonzalez. “We had no extras, but a very ecstatic childhood. We had nothing, but we didn’t need anything either. We lived paycheck to paycheck, but I didn’t have to go to work [as a child]. We didn’t have anything in excess, but we didn’t miss a meal either.”

However, trouble was never far from Soto, even at a adolescent age.

“For as long as I can remember, I have been fighting – not necessarily in boxing, but at school, on the streets,” he recalls. “My older brother said, ‘Instead of fighting in the streets, come to the gym and start boxing. You never know, you might become a boxer. I was a kid who liked to fight.

“In the morning before going to school, I told my mother not to prepare dinner for me because I deserved it for defending my classmates! Even though I looked delicate, I felt like a hero.”

Soto did well in the gym. He left school and began an amateur career that lasted only six months and nine fights, although he won a regional title in Durango. He turned professional in March 1986 at the age of 14 and was earning around $50.

“For the glory of being a professional boxer, for the money, for the travel and seeing the world,” he said, justifying his decision to turn professional at such a adolescent age. “It pushed me.”

The youngster had a successful first year as a professional, recording 12 straight wins, all in the first four rounds. He moved his base of operations to northern Mexico.

“I moved to Juarez when I was 15; I am adapted to this city [singer] Juan Gabriel,” he said. “I was a teenager who went there out of curiosity, liked it and stayed there.”

However, a complex period soon followed in Soto’s early career. His first defeat was in July 1987, another in 1989, and in the next two years he lost twice to future world titleholder Victor Rabanales (SD 10/UD 10), which secured victories over seasoned veterans Armando Castro (UD 10). ) and Willy. Salazar (UD 10).

“Those fights definitely matured me and made me a lot stronger,” he said of his two losses to Rabanales. “I learned a lot from them.”

While still a teenager, he was selected to fight for the WBO bantamweight title against the more experienced Duke McKenzie in London in September 1991.

“The preparation was great and it was a great experience,” said Soto, who dropped a 12-round unanimous decision. “Going to a first-class country like England is a pretty experience and I really enjoyed it.

“The only bad experience was the result. Everyone saw me as the winner, and I hit it with all I had. It was definitely a highway robbery; people saw it. The decision was bad. It was a complex experience.”

This proved to be the next step in Soto’s education, and he bounced back strongly with 14 wins, first at junior featherweight and then at featherweight, winning national titles in both weight classes. He also earned bragging rights with victories over previously undefeated future lightweight champion Jose Luis Castillo (TKO 2) and former two-division world champion Louie Espinoza (PTS 12).

“I matured, trained even harder and became better,” he said. “Castillo came out with a score of 18-0 and everyone expected Castillo to win. At this point he was one of the top sparring players [Julio Cesar] Chavez. I managed to get it out.

“I had these past experiences that taught me how to prepare mentally, and it was invigorating [against Espinoza]”

Soto’s impressive streak came to an end when he scored a thrilling 12-round split decision over Alejandro Gonzalez in a WBC featherweight title eliminator in Juarez in August 1994.

“For the glory of being a professional boxer, for the money, for the journey to see the world… That’s what pushed me.”

“It was a tough fight; Gonzalez boxed well,” he said. “I thought I won, but he had to face Kevin Kelley for the title.”

While Soto began to climb back up to fight for the world championship, the WBC 126-pound title passed from Kelley to Gonzalez, who in turn lost to Manuel Medina, defeated by Luisito Espinosa.

Soto was rewarded with a shot at Espinosa, but had to travel to the Philippines in July 1996 to get it.

“It was a great experience, but it was complex,” said Soto, who dropped a 12-round unanimous decision. “In the Philippines, everything was geared towards his victory. The president came and it was a huge deal. I felt I gave a great performance.”

The unflappable, persistent “Cobrita” returned with 10 wins over the next three years and was able to face Espinosa in a rematch, this time in El Paso, Texas.

“In Manila he was running and retreating, but in Texas he really came to fight,” said Soto, who defended his WBC belt with a unanimous decision victory. “It was amazing. I celebrated with friends, family and a journalist friend. We crossed the 40-mile border [back to Juarez] celebrate.”

Later that year, Soto was given the opportunity to face featherweight cash cow Naseem Hamed in a unification bout.

“I had a great training camp,” said Soto, who lost an ugly, foul-filled 12-round game. “When we got to Detroit, I saw a lot of comical situations that led to Hamed assessing the situation on his own scale. He made a huge deal and they said, “No, you can’t weigh on your own scale.” They finally relented and let him weigh them on the scales they had brought. He didn’t weigh himself on the official scale that everyone weighed himself on.

“The second thing that was comical to me was that Arthur Mercante was supposed to be the referee and Hamed told them, ‘If he judges, I won’t get in the ring.’ There was a change of official at the last minute. If we had a referee who wasn’t appointed by him, I think he would have been disqualified for some of the clownish things he did.

“Hamed was a notable fighter, but fighting him was just terrible. It was just a sullied fight. He wasn’t there to fight. All he did was run and run and be a clown show. I don’t want to take anything away from Naseem Hamed, but when I fought him, he was a coward. He didn’t report. I don’t want to take away from him that he was a world champion and I respect him because this is boxing, not something straightforward.

When Soto reemerged eight months later, he made the surprising decision to move up to junior featherweight, where he met future two-division champion Oscar Larios in a WBC title eliminator.

“It’s one of the stupidest things I’ve ever done, to come back and leave weight classes,” admitted Soto, who lost by unanimous decision over 12 rounds.

After returning to 126 pounds after a draw, the usually tough Soto was surprisingly stopped in three rounds by Johnny Tapia, who, despite winning world titles in three weight classes, was not known as a boxer.

“It was one of those fights – I lost my mind for a second and he grabbed me,” Soto said. “There’s nothing more to it.”

This was the beginning of Soto’s decline from the world stage and the first of seven consecutive losses to solid opposition. Although he managed to get back into the win column, he was never able to reach world level again and retired in 2011 with a record (63-24-3, 43 knockouts).

Since retiring, Soto has spent time working with local children in hopes of discovering future fighters.

“Money can come and go, but it can never take away my world title. It lasts forever,” he said proudly.

Soto, now 52, ​​is divorced but lives with his current partner, with whom he has a child. He also has three children from his first marriage. He lives in Juarez and is still the only world champion in his city, but he regularly visits his family at Palacio Gomez.

He graciously took the time to talk to The Ring about his best fights in 10 key categories.

THE BEST JAB

Luisito Espinosa: “It was definitely a complicated jab because I thought he was going to throw the hook and the jab would come out of nowhere. It was very complex to decipher.”

THE BEST DEFENSE

Espinosa: “He had a very high guard and a stiff one to break.”

THE FASTEST HANDS

Alejandro Gonzalez: “When I started boxing, I fought a lot of fighters with hand speed. But for a notable player, I would say Alejandro Gonzalez. He was throwing punches from all sides.”

BEST FOOT WORK

Gonzalez: “I fought a lot of fighters who had good movement and sometimes I had problems with fighters who moved sideways. It’s stiff for me to answer this question. Naseem Hamed was known for his footwork, but he failed to impress me. Gonzalez moved a lot and had good feet.

CHIN

Victor Rabanales: “I thought, ‘Damn! This guy won’t fall. And I hit him with everything. I hit him with everything, including the kitchen sink, and he wouldn’t fall.

THE SMARTEST

Gonzalez: “He was astute because he knew how to move and box, not trade.”

STRONGEST

Louie Espinoza: “He was very sturdy; he was the strongest fighter I ever faced.”

THE BEST PUNCHER

Espinoza: “He surprised me a little bit. In the fourth round he hit me with a shot that put me on my feet. I was gone for a few seconds, which is an eternity in boxing. I can’t believe Espinoza even found out I was injured that badly. If he knew, he would have knocked me out. Hamed was known for punching stiff and I wouldn’t take that away from him, but I was never injured in my fight with him. I didn’t feel it.”

BEST BOXING SKILLS

Jose Luis Castillo: “I know I eliminated him earlier. Technically, even in those few rounds, he was the best fighter I faced.

THE BEST SUIT

Louie Espinoza: Castillo was good, but that came after our fight. Hamed achieved a lot and you can’t take that away from him, but he didn’t impress me. He ran and should have been disqualified. Tapia was good; he just caught me with a good punch. Arizona’s Espinoza was tough; we stood and traded all night. It was one of my hardest fights. I would give it to him.

Read more from the “BEST THING I HAVE DONE” series.

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