Michel Soro Wants To Challenge For The EBU Title Next

By Victor Salazar

Michel Soro (26-1-1, 16 KO’s)  came into last Friday’s junior middleweight contest an underdog and fighting in his opponent, Glen Tapia’s backyard in Newark, New Jersey. After not throwing much in the 1st round, Soro took over and eventually knocking out his opponent in an upset victory.

For Soro the game plan was to see what Tapia had in the 1st round and then to start attacking.

“A fight lasts 10 rounds, the 1st round I knew that after it, he would get tired,” Soro told BoxingScene.com. “After the end of the 1st, he was getting into the fight and I was starting to get in the fight and then we hurt and we finished him, my killer instinct kicked in.”

Tapia struggled to make weight and some feel that may have been a factor in his performance. Soro feels regardless of the weight, this would be his fight because they felt Tapia would fade late.

“It as part of the game plan totally because I don’t think Tapia has a big heart and physically I don’t think he was ready,” Soro said about Tapia possibly fading late. “I was concentrating on the fight. My goal was to make weight and be professional. If he’s not on weight, he’s not professional and he paid it tonight.”

Soro felt that once he had Tapia hurt, he needed to finish him because he had let other guys off the hook.

“The fight is 10 rounds, After 3 rounds, he was getting tired and I was hitting him hard,” Soro said. “I didn’t think it was over but that’s why I had my killer instinct to make sure I finished the job because before I would hurt guys and not finish the job.

So what’s next for a guy who upset the house fighter in front of his hometown fans? Soro feels a move to challenge for the EBU title would be the next move. “June 20th in Italy because I’m the challenger for the EBU belt,” said Soro. If not he would welcome a rematch with Tapia. “Why not? He’s a good fighter so if he wants a rematch and if he was can please the fans, why not?”