On Saturday, January 21, boxing fans will be treated to an all-out war at the Asylum Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania when hometown favorite “King” Gabriel Rosado (18-5, 10 KO’s) battles Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico’s Jesus Soto Karass (24-6-3, 16 KO’s) in a ten-round junior middleweight showdown live on NBC Sports Network at 9pm E/T.
The bout is part of a fan-pleasing card headlined by a ten-round heavyweight clash between “Fast” Eddie Chambers (36-2, 18 KO’s) and Sergei “White Wolf” Liakhovich (25-4, 16 KO’s), and is the first of four outstanding fight cards to be televised by the network this year.
Rosado, 25, has never been in a dull fight due to his crowd-pleasing style, and is riding a four-fight winning streak heading into his contest with Soto Karass. Rosado’s technique is very exciting for fight fans because he uses adept lateral movement remarkably well, but always ends up in a blow-for-blow fracas with the opposition.
Rosado is ecstatic to fight again in his hometown of Philadelphia and says he is prepared to take on Soto Karass. “He’s coming up to my weight class,” stated Rosado. “I have the size advantage, and I am going to use my power more in this fight. I could always box, but I am going to back this guy up!” Rosado added, “He’s used to guys boxing him. I am not going to give him a comfort zone. I am going to overpower him, walk him down and back him up. I will take him out of his element.”
Soto Karass, 29, has a granite chin, and has never been knocked out in a prize fight. From December of 2005 thru August of 2009, Soto Karass did not sustain a loss, compiling a record of (13-0-1, 6 KO’s). He dropped his last four ring appearances, going 0-3 with one no-contest, in bloody – and sometimes controversial -fashion.
Soto Karass is not one to take a backward step from his challengers, which was clearly exhibited in his two confrontations with Mike Jones, the first of which he lost in a highly-contested, ten-round majority decision on the undercard of Manny Pacquiao vs. Antonio Margarito. Soto Karass wore Jones down with relentless pressure, taking an enormous amount of punishment to dish out his own damaging shots in a back and forth melee.
Soto Karass believes NBC Sports Network could not have chosen a better opponent for Rosado, “Everyone that has seen me fight knows that when they come to watch me they are going to get a great show. With Rosado, it’s a fight that will be a give and take war. I know that Rosado is more of a boxer, this camp we’ve been working my on my boxing. And if I have to go forward, I’ll go forward, no problem.” Soto Karass added, “This fight will be a little more intelligent, but I really do see this becoming a war. The boxing fans should definitely watch this, they will not be disappointed.”
If there was ever a fight deemed a “crossroads fight” in boxing, Rosado vs. Soto Karass is certainly it. Neither man can afford another loss on their record. There’s no better recipe for an exhilarating fight than two guys desperate for victory, battling in a packed Philadelphia boxing venue. NBC Sports Network and boxing fans everywhere won the moment this fight was signed.
Promoted by Main Events, Peltz Boxing Promotions and Goossen Tutor, the non-televised undercard fights will begin at 7 p.m. Televised fights will begin at 9 p.m.Tickets are priced at $45 and $65 can be purchased by calling Peltz Boxing, (215) 765-0922 or online at www.peltzboxing.com
