Jesus Soto Karass Mulling Retirement After Latest Loss On ESPN

Juan Carlos Abreu is back to his winning ways and may have sent his opponent, Jesus Soto Karass, on his way to retirement.

Abreu defeated Soto Karass in the main event of ESPN’s latest “Golden Boy Boxing” series, stopping him the eighth round of their fight. Abreu was pressuring Soto Karass throughout the fight, constantly dealing hard shot after hard shot. Soto Karass was knocked down by a right uppercut. He landed a couple of more punches and then blasted him with an overhand right to the head that sent Soto Karass to the canvas. After Soto Karass got back up, Abreu continued to attack Soto Karass until the referee called an end to the fight, awarding Abreu with the win.

After the fight, Soto Karass hinted at the possibility of retiring, but said he will talk it over with his team. He said if he retires now, he’ll be happy with the way his career ended.

“I’m gonna talk it over with my team, and we’ll make that final call,” Soto Karass said. “My wife will have a lot of say. I want to say goodbye to boxing, but if this was my farewell then I go with my head held high.”

If this is indeed the end of Soto Karass’ career, then it is the end of a 17-year long career that involved him fighting the likes of Keith Thurman, Andre Berto, Marcos Maidana and Devon Alexander. Soto Karass has been struggling in the past few years, losing five of his last six fights and is winless since the end of 2013.

Soto Karass also lost his last fight, which was also a “Golden Boy Boxing on ESPN” main event, against Mauricio Herrera n August.