Javier Fortuna vs. Jason Sosa Preview

WBAnews

In the first defense of his crown, Fortuna TKO’d 19-1 Carlos Ivan Velasquez in the 10th round. (Photo: Lucas Noone/PBC)

On Friday, June 24, at the Capital Gym in Beijing, China, WBA World super featherweight champion Javier “El Abejon” Fortuna (29-0-1, 21 KOs) the southpaw from Braintree, Massachusetts, by way of La Romana, Dominican Republic, defends his title against #8 ranked Jason Sosa (18-1-4, 14 KOs), from Camden, New Jersey.

Fortuna turned pro in 2009 and established his bona fides from the start. He won the WBA World interim featherweight title in 2012 with a unanimous decision victory over 27-0 Patrick Hyland at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

In May 2015, “El Abejon” won the vacant WBA World super featherweight title with a win over 34-1 Bryan Vasquez in Brooklyn. Four months later in the first defense of his crown, Fortuna TKO’d 19-1 Carlos Ivan Velasquez in the 10th round of a scheduled 12.

Sosa turned pro in 2009 with a TKO victory over Jonathan Ocassio at the Blue Horizon in Philadelphia. He has four draws, including a majority draw in his last fight against undefeated Nicholas Walters, but has not lost a fight since 2010. A hard-hitting warrior who loves to go toe-to-toe, the fight against Fortuna will be his first fight in Beijing and his first shot at a world title.

“This means everything,” said Sosa. “It’s a once in a lifetime shot. This is what every fighter dreams of, to fight for a world title. I’m expecting a tough fight from Fortuna, so I got to go there mentally prepared for everything. There’s a Plan A. There’s a Plan B. There’s a Plan C, a D, and an E. It depends on what kind of fight Fortuna wants to bring. I’m taking this trip all the way to China to capture the WBA title. I can’t wait to go there and I know it’ll be a beautiful experience.”

Sosa is a terrific battler who always comes to fight, as Fortuna is well aware.

“I have been waiting for this opportunity,” said Fortuna. “He is a strong fighter and he is always thinking in there. Nevertheless, I feel that I’m more talented and have more ability. I also have the stronger punching power.

“I’ve fought punchers before,” he added, “and I box them until their power starts to dissipate and then I rumble with them.”