:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/7578687/146940770.jpg)
Lucas Matthysse said he wouldn't let it go to the cards tonight. And even though Humberto Soto requested the fight to be cut from 12 to 10 rounds, which Matthysse agreed to, he didn't let it get more than halfway there. Matthysse stopped Soto with a strong charge at the end of the fifth round, putting Soto on the mat just before the bell with a pair of hard right hands. Referee Raul Caiz let the fighter go to his corner, where the corner made the assessment and stopped the bout between the rounds.
Matthysse (31-2, 29 KO) scores the best win of his career with this one, and Soto (58-8-2, 34 KO) has his bubble burst a bit at 140 pounds, which looks like it's going to be too heavy for him to take shots from the better fighters.
Soto started the fight well in the first two rounds, boxing effectively, staying busy, and going at worst 50-50 with the Argentine fighter. But after that, Matthysse began to impose his will, landing body shots that added up, and just clearly wound up having the bigger power. Soto landed good, clean shots in this fight, and maybe hurt Matthysse once or twice. Matthysse pushed Soto back repeatedly, and just was too much for the Mexican.
The fight lived up to its billing, as it was grueling the whole way through. Indeed, Matthysse didn't let the judges get a say in this one -- and has bought himself another big shot in the 140-pound division.
Our live coverage coverage continues here with the Victor Ortiz vs Josesito Lopez main event up next.