On Friday, June 24, at the 18,000-seat Beijing Capital Gym in Beijing, China, one of boxing’s most exciting fighters, Javier “El Abejon” Fortuna (29-0-1, 21 KOs) will make the second defense of his WBA World Super Featherweight Championship against hard-punching WBA #8 contender Jason Sosa (18-1-4, 14 KOs). The potential war between the two sluggers will be also be seen by an audience of nearly 100 million Chinese via cctv5 channel live broadcast.

Fortuna vs. Sosa was officially announced at a press conference in Beijing today as the first in an ongoing series of four high-profile events per year that will be put on by the co-promotional partnership of Mr. Min Du Modoson and Mr. Liu Gang of Max Power Promotions “MPP” and Sampson Lewkowicz of Sampson Boxing.

26-year-old Fortuna, of La Romana, Dominican Republic, has been a standout in boxing since his days as a decorated amateur who participated in the inaugural Pan American Junior Championships in 2003. Considered one of the most exciting fighters in the sport, Fortuna won his current title with a unanimous decision over Bryan Vasquez in May 2015. He defended it successfully in September of last year with a TKO 10 over Carlos Ivan Velasquez. Fortuna previously won the Interim WBA Featherweight Championship by beating formerly undefeated Patrick Hyland in December 2012. The powerful southpaw is also known for scoring highlight reel knockouts over formidable opponents including Yuandale Evans (TKO 1) and Miguel Zamudio (KO 1). Fortuna is promoted by Sampson Boxing.

28-year-old Sosa, of Camden, New Jersey, is of proud Puerto Rican descent. He earned his title shot and caught the eyes of the boxing world in December of last year by fighting to a surprise draw with one of the sport’s top fighters, two-time world champion Nicholas “Axe Man” Walters of Jamaica. The fight was televised on HBO Boxing After Dark. A powerful puncher, Sosa was riding a 13-fight knockout streak before facing Walters. Sosa is also known for his aggressive style and iron chin. He has been called the best fighter to come out of Camden since former world champion Dwight “Camden Buzzsaw” Muhammad Qawi. Sosa is promoted by Peltz Boxing.

Here’s what the promoters, participants and their trainers had to say:

I feel great. I am honored to be fighting in China.

He’s 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 have been waiting for this opportunity. I am looking forward to this fight for my team and my country.

I’ve fought punchers before and I box them until their power starts to dissipate and then I rumble with them.

I appreciate all the love I get from the fans, worldwide. That’s why I train hard: to gain fans and to make myself the best fighter I can be.

It’s a great opportunity. This is what every fighter dreams of: to fight for a world title.

It depends on what kind of fight Fortuna wants. I’ll be in there fighting smart and just see what kind of fight he wants to bring. We can go to war, or we can box. It’s up to him.

He’s a little aggressive. A little wild. Just another guy.

I’m not really doing anything different training for him. Everything I’m doing is working, so I don’t fix anything that’s not broken.

I’m excited and nervous to fight in China. It’s my first time out of the country for me. I can’t wait to go there and I know it’ll be a beautiful experience.

We are happy to be partnering with international matchmaker and promoter Sampson Lewkowicz to bring world-class boxing to the county of China.

Javier Fortuna has what it takes to become a star in China. He and his worthy opponent will be greeted with open arms by our people.

This event will be huge in the country of China. Our company, MPP, is excited to work with Sampson Lewkowicz and to be able to bring such a great fight to the people.

China is a boxing-rich country. Boxers here are heroes to the people. Both fighters will be treated like celebrities and the fight will be watched by millions and millions of people.

I am happy to be helping to put on this event in the beautiful country of China and looking forward to a long and prosperous co-promotional partnership with Mr. Min Du Modoson and Mr. Liu Gang of MPP.

We have plans to feature many of the world’s best fighters in terrific match-ups like this one.

Javier Fortuna will be facing a fighter with almost as much power as he has, and he will have to be at his best to get another victory.

It’s going to be a great fight and Sosa is looking forward to winning the world title.

Sosa just held his own and fought to a draw with one of the top junior lightweights in the world, Nicholas Walters, and it boosted his confidence level even higher.

Fortuna and Sosa are the same size, so I think that’s good. Sosa also has great sparring with another very good left hander, Tevin Farmer. They’re stablemates. Tevin is the perfect imitation, size wise, not style wise, of Fortuna.

I think it’s going to be an excellent fight for Fortuna to show off his talents internationally.

Sosa is a great opponent that we’ll have to train hard for and be focused against. It won’t be easy but Fortuna is training hard and it should be a great fight.

Sosa is a pressure fighter and a big puncher with the left hand. He’s rugged and throws combinations.

Me, as a trainer, I have already picked Sosa apart. He lunges a lot. He’s definitely aggressive and has a huge left hook.

It’ll be an interesting fight.

Fortuna is very talented, but I do believe that this is a good time for Jason to take this fight. He’s fought the better opposition.

Fortuna is a fighter that comes to fight, and we come to fight, so I believe it’ll be a very exciting fight, with two guys doing what they do best out there.

I believe we have the better and stronger fighter, so I like our chances.

I’ve never been to China, neither has Jason. We’re looking forward to the experience as a team; to be in a different country and experience something different. I know the Chinese population loves boxing, and combat sports. We are expecting a great show.

About Sampson Boxing

Sampson Boxing has promotional partners all over North and South America, Africa, Asia, New Zealand, Australia, Europe and Central America and Sampson Boxing events have been televised on such premiere networks as HBO, Showtime, ESPN, VS. and several international networks.