Video: Humberto Soto Highlight Reel

HUMBERTO SOTO ain’t nothing to play with. The WBC lightweight world champ has won seven fights in a row, including two recent, grueling slugfests against rawhide-tough veterans that showed Soto had both the mental fortitude and physical stamina to go the distance with some of boxing’s best.

In December 2009, Soto went 10 rounds with former world champ Jesus Chavez. During the bout, Soto endured some dirty tricks, including a toss through the ropes, but kept his head on his way to a unanimous decision.

Then, in March 2010, Soto stepped up a division to lightweight to take on another former champ, DAVID DIAZ. The fight was on the undercard of the super-sized brawl between MANNY PACQUIAO and JOSHUA CLOTTEY at Cowboys Stadium. Adding to the drama was the fact that Soto and Diaz were close friends.

But, as with Chavez’s dirty tricks, Soto’s affinity for Diaz didn’t play against him. Indeed, had the two notREVEALED THEIR FRIENDSHIP during the pre-fight presser, few would’ve guessed it. Soto dropped Diaz twice, before the final bell of the 12-round match-up rang and the judges handed Soto another unanimous decision — and a new belt.

The champ brings those recent experiences to bear in HIS NEXT FIGHT AGAINST CHALLENGER RICARDO DOMINGUEZ (31-5-2, 19 KOs), of Culiacan, Mexico, on May 15 on Soto’s home turf of Los Mochis, Mexico. Check out Soto’s highlight reel below, and then tell us what you think: Does Soto have the right stuff to beat Dominguez and retain his belt?