Video: Interview with Humberto Soto’s Trainer

MyBoxingFans.com recently caught up with Bobby Quirarte, trainer of WBC lightweight champion Humberto “Zorrita” Soto. Watch the video to learn what Quirarte told Soto in the corner, what punch they worked on at camp for Antillon and who he would have Soto face next if it was his choice in this exclusive video.

Enjoy this video.

1. I am sure that you were expecting a tough fight against Urbano Antillon but did you think as Humberto Soto’s trainer that it was going to be that tough?

Yes, we did expect it to be that way. A come forward fight. We trained to fight him inside and to box him but we knew that he was going to pressure us.

2. Which past fights of Antillon did you see to get ready?

We saw the one against Bobby Pacquiao which was only one round, we saw many snippets of fights including some sparring sessions against Marquez and Edwin Valero.

3. Which punch did you guys work in camp to be ready for Antillon?

Definitely the uppercuts.

4. How did you know that the uppercuts were going to be the key punch for the fight?

Because of the videos that I saw. Antillon is a strong fighter but he is too frontal. All the time he was going to lean on us and bending over a little bit. Besides that, in a video I got to see that he has the tendency to get hit a lot in the inside.

5. There were some rounds during the fight, the mid rounds, where it didn’t seem things were going well for Humberto. It seemed as Antillon was taking control of the fight. What were you saying to him during those rounds in the corner?

From the first round to the fifth round, it was perfect. In the sixth round Antillon applied more pressure on “Zorra” and hurt him with a body shot to the liver. It was a great job on their part to work the body of “Zorra”. I tried to control him, for him to follow the same rhythm. Ask him not to stay on the ropes, for him to use lateral movement. I think he was successful until about the tenth round when he slowed down a bit. We were able to control the strategy we had for the fight.

6. You felt that he got his second win at about the eight, ninth round, and did you feel that from then on he would be able to win the fight?

Before hand at that point, in my opinion, point wise we felt that we had the fight won by the tenth round. We ran the risk because the last rounds were very tough and “Zorra” began to feel fatigued which we noticed in the corner. Antillon was very conditioned and he came with everything in the last two rounds and we ran the risk of getting knocked out like any other fighter. We tried to control him and for him to get two last rounds. In the last round I sent him out to move to secure the fight. I don’t agree with the scores but at the end we won so there really isn’t much more to dispute.

7. That was my next question, what was going through your head when you heard the scores and they were so close?

Obviously for us not to get robbed because for me and I think for a lot of people, I already got to see the fight with out passion and we won the fight clearly. It was a great fight, very competitive but at the end I realized that we won and very clearly.

8. A lot of people are saying that they fight they want to see is Humberto Soto versus Brandon Rios, what is your opinion of that fight?

We are ready to fight against any fighter. The ones in charge of that aspect are the promoters and his manager who happens to be “Cañas” Lozada. Who ever is a top level, like Rios, like Antillon, I would rather have the opportunity against Marquez.

9. As his trainer, would you be open to a rematch against Antillon?

Yes, I think he deserves it. He clearly deserves it. He is a very good person and I know that it would be another great fight.

10. For the last question, when will we see “Zorrita” Soto again in the ring?

I think it will be at the beginning of March or the middle of March unless a deal is made for February 26th against Brandon Rios. We don’t know for sure if it going to get done, that is not in my hands, but if it happens, it will be on February 26th.