Flyweights Solis & Sosa to Collide on UniMas

GUADALAJARA, Jalisco, Mexico - Former world flyweight champions Ulises “Archi” Solís and Edgar Sosa will collide on Saturday, March 9 in the Coliseo Olimpico of the Guadalajara University (UGL) in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico in the main event of a card that will be telecast in the United States in Unimas boxing series “Solo Boxeo Tecate”. 

(Editor's note: Our next "Solo Boxeo Tecate" event is on March 16.)

Solis (35-2, 22 KO’s) of Guadalajara, Jalisco and Sosa (47-7, 28 KO’s) of Mexico City, have met twice before with Solis winning both (by split decision in 2001 and majority decision in 2003). Ten years later, they’ll meet in a crossroads fight that will position one of them for a shot a world title in a second division.

The winner will also take home the WBC flyweight silver belt and the mandatory shot at WBC flyweight champion Toshiyuki Igarashi of Japan.

“It will be a tough fight, as Sosa is a good fighter and was a great world champion. It’s an excellent chance for me, because if I defeat him, I will be close to fighting for the WBC flyweight title,” said Solis.

Solis won the International Federation Boxing (Boxing) in January of 2006 and had nine successful defenses before losing in 2009. He regained the title in 2011, but was taken away by the IBF for inactivity from injury he sustained outside the ring.

“I want to show the people and myself that I can still be a champion. I have faced and defeated Sosa twice. Those two bouts were great battles, but we were rookies. Now things have changed, as we have both made great careers,” Solis, added.

Sosa in the twilight of his career has certainly seen his share of ups and downs but remains confident that he can close his career out in proper fashion.

Sosa, the number one ranked Flyweight contender according to the WBC could be one fight away from a shot at a version of the 112 pound title.

Therefore, it comes as a surprise that Sosa would challenge Solis, a man that handed Edgar two close defeats earlier in his career. Still, Sosa states that he's not one to back away from a difficult situation.

“I have never backed down from a challenge, that's what makes a champion.  Solis won two very close decisions at the beginning of my career. Ten years after, our paths meet again. I am not the same fighter. We both respect each other and this fight will close the rivalry between us,” Sosa explained.

It's this sort of attitude that has made Mexican fans in particular warm to the skilled little man -- something that Sosa doesn't take lightly.

“I am the underdog that was able to turn fate around," said Sosa. "I've had my ups and downs. After being head-butted by Rodel Mayol in 2009, I had a fracture that almost destroyed my career. My fans were there for me. They identify with me. Before being a champion, I was a taxi driver in the streets of Mexico City struggling to feed my family but you never know what fate has in store for you."

Sosa's taxi driving days are from a long time ago. Now, at the tail end of his career, the question becomes: how long can Sosa continue fighting. While Sosa believes he has a few fights left, he warns fans that he doesn't see himself extending his career well into his late thirties such as his countryman Juan Manuel Marquez.

“I want to be a two-division champion. This will secure my place in Mexican boxing history. If I achieve that goal this year, then I may fight another year. Not everybody can be like Juan Manuel Marquez,” Sosa expressed.

Sosa won the WBC 108-pound belt in June of 2007 and had 10 successful defenses before losing the belt in 2009. Since then he is 10-1.

In the co-main event of the night Alejandro “Cobrita” Gonzalez (17-0, 11 KO’s) of Guadalajara will take on Alexander Acosta (7-7, 3 Kos) of Guadlajara. Gonzalez, the son of the former world champion of the same name, is coming of a big knockout win over Hanzel “Tornadito” Martinez, last month in Tijuana.