THEY are a silver-tongued breed, boxing agents, but the distinguished-looking Antonio Lozada Snr has the grey hair and handlebar moustache to match.

The respected Mexican fixer, who has worked with so many of the noble art’s Latin American superstars from his stronghold of Tijuana in Baja California, is holding court in a suite at the Marriott Hotel in Glasgow and telling all and sundry about how he first met Humberto Soto, the seasoned fighter who will return to this city in early March and attempt to prise the WBC Silver super lightweight belt from Scotland’s Josh Taylor.

A 37-year-old veteran who has fought 78 times already, not to mention winning and losing world titles on three separate occasions, the suspicion is that Soto might lack the motivation of the younger man, who has only gone the distance in one of his 11 professional fights to date. If the fact he has only ever been stopped once, by the big punching Lucas Matthysse, in all that time doesn’t dispel that notion then the story Lozada tells about his man just might.

“I have worked with many, many champions throughout my career but Humberto is my greatest work of art,” said Lozada. “He has been with me for nearly 20 years and is like my son.

“When I met him, he was living in a four metre square house made out of cardboard with soil on the floor,” he added. “He came from nothing but he knew a fighter of mine and I liked what I saw.

“I spoke with his manager at the time and told him we should work together because I could make him a champion.

“He told me I was crazy. Maybe I was. But he became world champion not just once, but three times times. He never lost the titles in the ring, only because of moving up the weights.”

From living in such makeshift dwellings, boxing has allowed Soto to live in privileged conditions, not to mention buying houses for most of his extended family. WBC super featherweight world champion between 2008 and 2009, WBC lightweight champion from 2010 and 2011, after a stint as WBC interim featherweight champ from 2005 and 2006, Soto is grateful for the rewards his lengthy career has brought him and reckons this tough upbringing has made him the fighter he is today.

“It was tough growing up in Tijuana,” said Soto. “We didn’t have much but I always had boxing. It provided me with a job, bread and a roof over my head.

“I bought a house for my mum,” he added. “I have three brothers and I bought each of them a house as well. Also I have a nice house for myself, of course. I never imagined I would ever have such a house. I am very grateful to this sport. If I win against Taylor I might buy another one. But not in Scotland - it’s too cold over here!”

Soto’s thirst for the sport is a product of both nature and nurture. “My grandfather was an amateur boxer and I went with him to a training session one day. I guess I was curious about fighting in the ring because I was already fighting in kindergarten, primary and secondary school! I don’t know what I would have done if I wasn’t a boxer but I have always worked hard. I feel blessed to have been a world champion and I want to experience it again.”

As hard as it has been to avoid the progress of Taylor during a 2017 which saw him dismantle the cocky Ohara Davies then become the first man to stop awkward Mexican Miguel Vasquez, Soto has managed to do it. The 37-year-old admitted he had yet to see the man he will face in the Hydro this March in action – even on YouTube.

“I must be honest, I don’t know anything about Taylor,” said Soto, who has won 66 and lost nine of his 78 matches to date. “I don’t like to watch videos of fighters because every fight has different preparation. Some people watch videos to prepare and it doesn’t always work out the way you have seen. I’ll work with my trainer and manager, and between us will find a strategy that will work against Taylor.”

It is the second Mexican opponent in a row for Taylor, but Soto would not be seeking out Vasquez for any inside information. “I don’t need to speak to Miguel Vasquez either, that’s not my style,” said Soto. “I will use my own experience. I have fought many tough opponents over the years, such as David Diaz, Joan Guzman, Bobby Pacquiao. My fight with Urbano Antillon was fight of the year in the US.

“I still have the hunger to keep going. I am a Mexican and we love to fight in the ring.

“There will be a hostile atmosphere but it will not concern me. Every time I got in to the ring there’s been a hostile atmosphere. The noise won’t mean anything because it will just be me and him in the ring.”

“I am a privileged fighter. There are millions of fighters but very few who are chosen to be world champions. My dedication allowed me to win three world titles and I will take this fight very seriously. I know I am a foreigner here and will take on a home fighter.

“But I think my determination makes me go in to the ring and come out the other side on top.

“I think the same way for every fight. There’s always motivation, especially when you are going for a world title. I was a fighter everyone wanted to beat. “I’ve achieved that and not I’m looking to achieve more.

“Every Mexican gives his heart and soul in the ring. It’s not going to be me or Taylor who is going to win - it’s the people who come to watch the fight who will be the winners.”