LOS ANGELES – There are those who consider 16-year veteran Edgar Sosa of Mexico a has-been at this point of his career.
But US-based boxing trainer Nonito Donaire Sr. does not totally agree with that perception about Sosa, a 37-year-old flyweight campaigner who once reigned as World Boxing Council (WBC) lightflyweight champion which he claimed by decisioning “Hawaiian Punch” Brian Viloria last April 2007 in Texas.
Sosa (52-9, 30 knockouts) will serve as a litmus test for two-division world titleholder Donnie “Ahas” Nietes who will make his 112-lb debut this weekend in Carson, California.
“Lahat ng boxer na lalaban sa ganitong level, hindi ka pwde pa-easy easy kahit na natalo siya sa mga latest fights niya,” said Donaire. “Palagay ko good choice itong si Sosa para kay Nietes kasi kahit na sinasabing palubog na, andun pa din yung experience niya.”
Sosa remains as one of the top contenders of the star-studded flyweight division as he is currently rated fifth by the Mexico-based WBC currently ruled by pound-for-pound king Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez of Mexico.
While Sosa lost two of his last five bouts, those twin defeats were world title bouts against then-WBC ruler Akira Yaegashi of Japan last December 2013 in Tokyo and to Gonzalez last May 2015 in Inglewood.
Sosa reigned as 108lb titleholder for two years before his supremacy was halted by another Filipino Rodel Mayol who stopped the Mexican inside two rounds during their 2009 faceoff in Chiapas, Mexico.
“Sa napanood namin na mga laban andun pa din yung galling niya. Alam ni Donnie na malaking challenge ito kaya pursigido siya sa ensayo,” said ALA chief trainer Edito Villamor.
The 34-year-old Nietes, who holds a record of 38-1-4 spiked with 22 KO’s, will battle Sosa for the vacant WBO intercontinental flyweight crown this Saturday at the StubHub Center in Carson, California. (DENNIS PRINCIPE)