Elwin Soto


Elwin Soto Castro is a Mexican professional boxer who held the WBO junior flyweight title from 2019 to 2021.

Professional career

WBO junior flyweight champion

Soto vs. Acosta

Soto was scheduled to fight the reigning WBO light flyweight champion Ángel Acosta on June 21, 2019, in Acosta's fourth title defense. Soto was at the time the #15 ranked WBO light flyweight contender, and was considered a significant underdog going into the Acosta fight. Going into the twelfth round, Acosta was leading on the scorecards by 105-103, 106-102 and 107-101, while Soto managed to knock the champion down in the third round. Soto staggered Acosta with a left hook in the last round, and piled on volume, before referee Thomas Taylor abruptly stopped the fight at 23 seconds. The stoppage was considered controversial, as Acosta immediately protested the stoppage and didn't seem to be visibly hurt.

Soto vs. Heno

Soto was scheduled to make his first title defense against Edward Heno on October 24, 2019. The fight was set as the main event of the Golden Boy DAZN Thursday Night Fights. Soto won the closely contested fight, during which he was knocked down in the third round, by unanimous decision. The judges' scorecards reflected the close nature of the bout, with scores of 114-113, 115-112, and 115-112.
Soto moved up to flyweight for his next fight, being scheduled to fight Javier Alejandro Rendon in a non-title bout. Rendon's last three fights were at bantamweight, so the fight represented a move in weight for both fighters. Soto made quick work of his opponent, knocking him out with a body shot near the end of the first round.

Soto vs. Buitrago

For his second title defense, Soto was scheduled to fight the three-time world title challenger Carlos Buitrago, on October 30, 2020. Soto won the fight by a competitive unanimous decision, keeping his opponent at bay with his jab and power. Although one judge scored the bout 119-109, media outlets found the scores of 117-111 and 115-113 as more reflective of the contest.
His victory against Buitrago was Soto’s final fight under contract with Golden Boy Promotions, after which he signed with Matchroom Boxing USA. His signature with Matchroom opened the road to a title unification bout with Hiroto Kyoguchi, who was likewise under contract with Matchroom Boxing.

Soto vs. Takayama

For his third title defense, Soto was scheduled to fight the former five-time minimumweight world champion Katsunari Takayama, on May 8, 2021. Takuyama was ranked #11 by the IBF. The fight was set as the co-main event to the super middleweight title unification bout between Canelo Álvarez and Billy Joe Saunders. The fight was competitive throughout the first eight rounds, before Soto upped the volume in the ninth. The fight was stopped near the end of the round, despite Takayama returning shots and not being visibly hurt. The stoppage was considered highly controversial and referee Laurence Cole came under severe criticism.

Soto vs. Gonzalez

Soto was ordered to face the WBO junior flyweight mandatory title challenger Jonathan 'Bomba' Gonzalez on July 9, 2021. WBO gave the two of them a 20-day negotiation period in order to work out terms. As the two sides were unable to work out a deal, WBO extended the negotiation period to August 9, before the fight would go into an $80,000-minimum purse bid. All Star Boxing and Matchroom Boxing came to an agreement on August 8, therefore avoiding the purse bid. The fight was officially announced for October 16, 2021, to be fought on the undercard of the Mikey Garcia versus Sandor Martin catchweight bout. Soto lost the fight by split decision, with two judges awarding Gonzalez a 116-112 scorecard, while the third judge scored the fight 116-112 for Soto. Soto was unable to successfully pressure and land on the outfighting Gonzalez, who appeared out of danger for the majority of the bout.

Post-championship career

Soto was scheduled to face Hekkie Budler in the main event of a TV Azteca broadcast card on June 25, 2022, at the Palenque del FEX in Mexicali, Mexico in a WBC light flyweight title eliminator. Soto lost the fight by unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring the fight 114–113 for Budler. Budler created a lot of problems for Soto with his boxing ability. Soto was knocked down in the twelfth round, which proved crucial on the official scorecards.
Soto is scheduled to face Moises Caro for WBO Latino light flyweight title in Mexicali, Mexico on November 23, 2024.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
26Loss21–4–1Erik BadilloUD10Nov 29, 2025Save Mart Arena, Fresno, California, USA
25Draw21–3–1Moises CaroSD10Nov 23, 2024Plaza de Toros Calafia, Mexicali, Baja California, MexicoFor WBO Latino Junior Flyweight Title
24Win21–3Jose ArmentaUD10Nov 11, 2023San Felipe, Mexico
23Win20–3Brian MosinosSD10May 13, 2023Durango, Mexico
22Loss19–3Hekkie BudlerUD12Jun 25, 2022Palenque del FEX, Mexicali, Mexico
21Loss19–2Jonathan González12Oct 16, 2021Chukchansi Park, Fresno, California, USLost WBO junior flyweight title
20Win19–1Katsunari TakayamaTKO9, 2:44May 8, 2021AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas, USRetained WBO junior flyweight title
19Win18–1Carlos BuitragoUD12Oct 30, 2020Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California, USRetained WBO junior flyweight title
18Win17–1Javier Alejandro RendonKO1, 2:41Feb 15, 2020Auditorio del Estado, Mexicali, Mexico
17Win16–1Edward HenoUD12Oct 24, 2019Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California, USRetained WBO junior flyweight title
16Win15–1Ángel AcostaKO12, 0:23Jun 21, 2019Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California, USWon WBO junior flyweight title
15Win14–1Joel Castro CanoKO4, 1:37May 4, 2019Salon de Eventos del Hotel Posada del Sol, San Felipe, Mexico
14Win13–1Edgar OrnelasTKO1, 3:00Feb 16, 2019Salon de Eventos del Hotel Posada del Sol, San Felipe, Mexico
13Win12–1Erick Gonzalez HernandezKO6, 1:10Dec 22, 2018Auditorio Municipal, Tijuana, Mexico
12Win11–1Omar Martinez HernandezUD6Oct 6, 2018Gasmart Stadium, Tijuana, Mexico
11Win10–1Mario RodriguezUD8Jul 28, 2018Auditorio Municipal, Tijuana, Mexico
10Win9–1Jorge Miguel HernandezTKO2, 1:56Jun 9, 2018Auditorio Municipal, Tijuana, Mexico
9Win8–1Wilfredo Guerrero2, 1:07Jun 2, 2018Hotel Posada del Mar, San Felipe, Mexico
8Win7–1Jesus Hernandez SierraTKO4, 2:47Feb 17, 2018Domo del Parque San Rafael, Guadalajara, Mexico
7Win6–1Pedro VerdinTKO4, 2:41Oct 14, 2017Salon de Eventos del Hotel Posada del Sol, San Felipe, Mexico
6Win5–1Bryan HernandezTKO1, 0:32May 13, 2017Hotel Posada del Mar, San Felipe, Mexico
5Win4–1Jesus Hernandez Sierra6Apr 7, 2017Gimnasio Usos Múltiples UdeG, Guadalajara, Mexico
4Win3–1Alejandro EsquedaTKO1, 0:48Mar 25, 2017Gimnasio Usos Múltiples UdeG, Guadalajara, Mexico
3Loss2–1Danny AndujoUD4Feb 11, 2017Renaissance Hotel, Palm Springs, California, US
2Win2–0Erick Jovani Negrete1, 0:41Nov 19, 2016Salon de Eventos del Hotel Posada del Sol, San Felipe, Mexico
1Win1–0Efrain Gonzalez6Oct 15, 2016Salón Social Posada del Mar, San Felipe, Mexico