IN LA ROMANA Boxing 'El Abejón' Fortuna, Best Left Hook in La Romana Javier a.k.a. ‘El Abejón’ Fortuna, the fourth Fortuna’s manager since world-boxing champ from La Romana still turning pro. Manguita, also remembers his first fight when he was 12 from La Romana, and his and weighed just 65 pounds. It was at the first coach Juan Ramirez Coliseo Romana, and his opponent was a boy are the main people named Manuel Trinidad who forced him to responsible for the boxer’s debut in the ring with a defeat, his first and launch. It was Manguita last. The rematch was won by Fortuna. "We're who christened him as 'El not going to lose again," said his local coach Abejón' – the bumblebee Juan Ramirez after that first fight, almost - "because of his fast a premonition of the success that awaited movements and stinging the young fighter. At just 23 years of age, El punch" - and who took Abejón counts his fights in wins since his him to Santo Domingo on debut in 2009 in the class of the Ramirez’s recommendation (WBA). With 22 to carve out a career. “The wins behind him, 15 of them by KO, he is one combination of speed and of the leading figures in boxing today in his punch, which is unusual own right. Along with Leoncio Mercedes, Julio in boxing, and a very Gervasio and Luis 'Cucuso' Santana, he is one strong left," said Ramirez, of a small group of fighters from La Romana are the main qualities that who have reached the pinnacle of the sport both mentors saw and that and is the latest on a list of 18 who have given make Fortuna so great in a world champion’s title to the Dominican the ring. Republic. Fortuna won the world title belt in Off the mat, his two December in Las Vegas by unanimous decision children, family and his against unbeaten former world champion childhood friends in Villa from Ireland on the undercard Nazareth are his life. of the fourth -Juan Manuel Fortuna has not changed Marquez bout. much, despite his success: In April he lost his first title defense on the "He still does not realize scale when he failed the 126lb division by 13 the level he is at and how ounces. The fight went on and Fortuna beat important he is as an challenger Miguel Zamudio with a devastating athlete," says Ramirez. left hand in the first round that left his Mexican True to his origins, when Photo by Alfredo Esteban rival unconscious on the canvas. The climate in the country he can be Javier Fortuna during a training session at Coliseo Romana. and the absence of his coach Vicente de la found playing dominoes or Cruz, who did not make the flight with him softball on the San Carlos with a strong character, "at school he faced to Atlantic City due to visa problems, affected baseball pitch in the north of La Romana. In anyone regardless of size" – but who was the boxer’s pre-fight training: "It was very the neighborhood they watch all his fights always responsible towards the family and did disappointing; without my coach I didn’t have live on TV in the street, near the family home, odd jobs to help financially. Now Fortuna is the necessary care and control," says Fortuna. although his friends jokingly complain that rebuilding the house where he lived with his parents and six siblings, in exactly the same Now he is determined to rise to the challenge they often do not have time to enjoy his fights because of the speed in which he knocks place: "I never thought one of my kids could go of regaining the title. The first step will be this far, we are humble and have experienced on August 2 in the US versus Luis Franco, out his opponents. On the other hand, his mother Lydia Frances does not join in these many hardships, but luckily we have God on a Cuban former Olympian, and the fight our side.” Her wish is to accompany her son will be broadcast by ESPN. "Depending on parties. She never liked to see her son being hit. She fasts for a week before the fights and to the United States one day, where Fortuna the outcome, Javier may have the option of hopes to follow in the footsteps of idols like regaining the title in November, when we locks herself in her room to pray to God for her son. She only watches the TV when the Floyd Mayweather and for his name to remain have the next fight scheduled with HBO," says forever in the history of boxing. César Mercedes, better known as Mangüita, fight is over. She remembers him as a child Maria Escudero

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