by Ryan Burton

The Forum, Los Angeles, California - Junior middleweight contender Yoshihiro Kamegai (27-3-2, 24KOs) picked up an eight round stoppage in his rematch with Jesus Soto Karass (28-10-4, 18KOs).

In their first bout which ended in a split decision draw (97-93, Kamegai, 96-94 Soto-Karass and 95-95), Kamegai and Soto-Karass delivered an all-out brawl this past April 15 at the Belasco Theater in Los Angeles.

In the first round, they came out at close and continued their brawl from April. Kamegai hurt Soto Karass real bad with a body shot in the final minute and worked him over for the rest of that round. Soto Karass came right back in the second round, landing some hard punches on Kamegai with both hands and a very sharp uppercut. Kamegai came firing back with hooks to the body and they brawled it out. Kamegai's hand speed the difference in the third, as he was outlanding Soto Karass with some vicious shots. Kamegai was pushing him back and doing the better work.

Kamegai continue his damage in the fourth, landing some very flush shots to the head and body of Soto Karass. The Mexican veteran continued to come forward, but he was taking shots for his trouble. Karass was starting to do a little better in the fifth and was landing some hard hooks, but Kamegai continued to outwork him with more landed shots. The sixth had Kamegai with the upper-hand as Soto Karass was unable to adjust time around.

In the seventh, once again Kamegai hurt Soto Karass very bad to the body. Soto Karass held on for dear life, and managed to get himself out of trouble by firing back and rallying the rest of the way. During the eight, Kamegai blasted him to the body, hurt him really bad once again and sent him down with a rally of punches. Soto Karass was hanging on once again for dear life. Kamegai punished him for the rest of the round.