By James Slater: Argentina’s Marcos Maidana and Mexico’s Humberto Soto are both fighters who have had a hard time getting the big, big fights they want, and now, in an ironical twist, the two danger men could wind up facing one another this December.
According to a news bit on invaluable web site Fightnews.com, a source says the two are currently in a position where they might end up squaring off at the end of the year. Nothing is in any way official yet, and there is no word yet of a venue for the fight that would contest the WBA “regular” 140-pound belt Maidana holds, but both fighters are promoted by Golden Boy, therefore the fight should be one that could be easily made. And an intriguing match-up it would be.
31-year-old Soto, 56-7-2(33) made the move up to 140 in his last fight, when he stopped Jose Alfaro via impressive 2nd-round TKO. The ending of that fight was not the most satisfactory, but Soto proved he has carried real power up with him from his days as a featherweight, super-featherweight and lightweight. The September fight didn’t last too long, but Soto looked to have retained his speed also. Already a three-weight ruler, “The Little Crafty Fox” would have to be given a great chance of beating the slower yet more powerful Maidana to make it four title belts.
28-year-old Maidana, 31-2(28) has shovels for hands as we know, yet he can be outboxed. Ancient Mexican Erik Morales came close to out-pointing “El Chino” back in April, and Morales has nowhere near the speed and freshness of Soto. Also, Soto has a great chin (stopped just once, way back in 2000 by Hector Javier Marquez). Soto would be giving away two inches in height against Maidana, but the older man has a slightly longer reach.
Would the slow-footed Maidana be able to cope with the speed and craftiness of Soto? Would Maidana simply prove to be way too strong for Soto? These questions and others will be answered if the fight goes ahead.
Of added incentive to Soto would be the chance to join “El Terrible” as a Mexican fighter to have captured four “world” titles at different weights.
Maidana is coming off a relatively easy night’s work against an outgunned Petr Pterov. Something tells me the Argentine slugger would be given a far, far stiffer argument by Soto. This one could be a classic boxer Vs. puncher encounter.