11-0 Adrian Sosa signs with Ryan Roach’s Fighter Locker stable

Undefeated junior welterweight prospect Adrian “Tonka” Sosa (11-0, 9 KOs) has found a new home having signed a managerial contract with Ryan Roach’s Fighter Locker.

The 26-year-old Sosa, fighting out of Lawrence (MA), was a hot commodity after defeating previously undefeated Khiry Todd (7-0) in 2018 by way of a 6-round majority decision, which led to Sosa signing a promotional contract with DiBella Entertainment. Sosa was unhappy fighting about only four times against journeymen through mid-2019, when the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown boxing.

“I had issues with opponents who kept falling out,” Sosa explained. “Foxwoods is only 2-hours from Lawrence, and I was losing credibility with my fans because fights kept falling out. I wanted to step up to showcase my skills, but I wasn’t getting good fights, and then COVID hit. I called (Lou) DiBella and he gave me my release.

“That fight (vs. Khiary) is the biggest for me so far. People kept asking me why an undefeated fighter (6-0) would fight another undefeated prospect (Todd was 7-0). He wanted the fight and called me out in a disrespectful way on social media. I took the fight and knew I was faster than him. That fight led to me signing with DiBella.”

Despite his inactivity the past 2-plus years, in terms of fights, Sosa has kept busy in the gym, and he greatly benefited from four months in training camp this past May in Ft. Lauderdale (FL), sparring 50 rounds with George Kambosos, Jr. for his since postponed fight versus unified World lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez. Sosa used social media to get the sparring gig.

“I reached out to him on social media,” Sosa explained. “Every time he posted about his fight against Lopez, I replied asking him to bring me to his camp for sparring. One day I was DM’d by him on Instagram. He let me know his team watched my video and they wanted to bring me to his camp. I learned a lot there, more about my style, because I would just sit back as a boxer-puncher. I started to counter more, and my defense opened. I got a little more game from camp. When he did something, I wanted to come right back with it. The camp brought more of the fighter out of me. It opened my range and sharpened my defense.”

Sosa is a promotional free agent who has a new manager, Ryan Roach. The junior welterweight prospect is expected to be back in the ring next month at a site and date to soon be announced.

“I signed with Ryan because he is genuine and has proven himself,” Sosa noted. “Some doors were open to me, but he kept showing interest in me, and he never closed the door. He’s trustworthy and I want to be part of what he’s doing, and sign with a major promoter.”

“Signing Adrian means a lot to me personally because it took a lot of work over the past year,” manager Ryan Roach commented. “We built a relationship and I’ve proven to him what I do for my fighters. Adrian is special; I believe he could be one of the best fighters to come out of this region. He is a quick, talented fighter who has power and can work off of his defense very well. He also has a great work ethic. Adrian has all the tools to be a world champion. I look forward to guiding him as we are looking for tough fights right out of the gate. He’s been inactive but he’s ready, he’s learned a lot in the last two years. He was in camp with George Kambosos getting him ready for Teofimo Lopez I think that proves what kind of fighter Adrian is. Tonka will be a household name soon.”

(Kristian von Sponneck)

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