SOTO – LORENZO MAKE WEIGHT FOR REMATCH
by Ronnie Nathanielsz

Humberto Soto who once had dreams of fighting Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao faces troublesome Francisco Lorenzo in an eagerly-awaited rematch in Quintana Roo, Mexico on Sunday, Manila Time.

Their first battle for the vacant WBC super featherweight title ended in a bitter controversy after referee Joe Cortez disqualified Soto for hitting Lorenzo at the back of the head last June 28.

Lorenzo had been dropped earlier in the fourth round and was on the verge of being knocked out when Cortez intervened to award Lorenzo the decision based on what was an obviously faked injury by the 38 year old fighter from the Dominican Republic with a record of 33-4 with 14 knockouts.

The WBC headed by its president Don Jose Sulaiman over-ruled the referee’s decision, nullified the victory of Lorenzo and ordered the rematch.

Nevada State Athletic Commission executive director Keith Kizer acknowledged that Cortez had “made a mistake and acknowledged it.”

Soto who has a record of 45-7-2 with 29 knockouts is heavily favored to win fairly in their rematch.

The anger of Soto apparently spilled over into the official weigh-in where Sulaiman had to step in to cool things off. Both fighters came in at the 130 pound limit.

Pacquiao who won the WBC super featherweight title from Juan Manuel Marquez by a split decision in a gripping rematch relinquished the crown when he moved up to lightweight and demolished David Diaz in nine rounds.

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