Jesus Soto-Karass ready for Round 2 after first epic with Japan’s Yoshihiro Kamegai

Jesus Soto-Karass produced one of the best moments of Monday’s news conference to promote the Sept. 10 super-flyweight title fight between champion Carlos Cuadras of Mexico and Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez, who some consider the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter.

“I’ll leave the ring hot for you guys,” Soto-Karass said.

It’s a promise Soto-Karass is expected to make good on in his Forum co-main event on HBO considering the super welterweight and his opponent, Japan’s Yoshihiro Kamegai, have already staged a fight-of-the-year candidate.

Their April bout at Belasco Theater in downtown Los Angeles was a toe-to-toe draw.

“From the time we announced our first fight, all of the media was talking about how this was going to be one of the fights of the year, a trilogy, and I was like, ‘Wait, we haven’t fought yet … ,’” Soto-Karass said. “I’m telling you, the second time around is going to be better than the first.”

The 10-round battle featured a CompuBox-record 1,186 punches thrown, with Soto-Karass landing 352 to Kamegai’s 321.

Soto-Karass (28-10-4, 18 knockouts) said he deviated from his typical post-fight routine of not watching his fights to inspect a replay of the first fight twice and said, “I didn’t lose, and it wasn’t a draw.

“But I won a lot more, because I’m standing here at the Forum, on the undercard of an HBO world-championship card.”

Kamegai did not attend the news conference, but Soto-Karass spoke for him to predict a repeat slugfest between a “Mexican warrior,” and a “kamikaze.”

In their fight, there almost seemed to be an unwritten agreement between the fighters to throw punches with abandon until someone fell. Neither did.

“We both knew each other’s style. I’m a come-forward fighter. I know the more I throw, the more he wants,” Soto-Karass said. “I needed to be sure I had the energy to make sure I gave him all. And he did, too.

“My pressure comes from making sure I deliver another fight like that to all my fans.”

Soto-Karass, 33, beat former welterweight champion Andre Berto in 2013, sandwiched between losses to former or current champions Marcos Maidana, Keith Thurman and Devon Alexander.

He said winning the Kamegai rematch could elevate him toward a title shot.

“I know it’s not a title, and it wasn’t the first time. I’m OK with that,” Soto-Karass said. “It’s a great event, I’m happy to be a part of it, and maybe there will be a title touch to it, depending how I do.

“Winning this fight should open doors.”