Javier Fortuna
# Javier Fortuna

Javier Fortuna Francisco (born July 15, 1989) is a Dominican professional boxer. He held the WBA interim featherweight title from 2012 to 2013, the WBA (Regular) super featherweight title from 2015 to 2016, and challenged for the IBF lightweight title in 2018.

## Early life

Fortuna was raised in La Romana, Dominican Republic, where he trained in boxing with his older brother, Jonathon Alexander Fortuna.

## Amateur career

Fortuna was a member of the Dominican National Team, and during his amateur career he won a Pan American silver medal and a gold medal at the Dominican National Championships.

## Professional career

Fortuna is promoted by Lou DiBella's company, DiBella Entertainment. In March 2011, Fortuna knocked out Florida prospect Derrick Wilson to win the WBC Youth Intercontinental Featherweight Championship. He later followed this up with a first-round knockout victory over prospect Yuandale Evans, and a second-round knockout over former IBF and IBO Featherweight Champion, Cristobal Cruz.

### WBA interim featherweight title fight

On the undercard of Manny Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Marquez IV on December 8, 2012, Fortuna faced previously unbeaten Irish fighter Patrick Hyland for the WBA Interim Featherweight Title. Fortuna started fast, throwing power punches in bunches, but the Irishman stayed on his feet and began to put pressure on Fortuna. Fortuna seemed to fade late but had built enough of an early lead to earn a unanimous decision, and hand Hyland his first loss as a professional fighter.

### WBA regular super featherweight title fight

On the undercard of Amir Khan vs. Chris Algieri on May 20, 2015, Fortuna faced the Costa Rican Bryan Vázquez for the WBA (Regular) Super Featherweight Title. Fortuna started strong, throwing a lot of punches and making Vasquez look slow. Fortuna kept his game plan until the last round and won his second world title as a professional.

In his first title defense, Fortuna faced Carlos Velasquez. Fortuna started strong, and managed to drop Velasquez in the second round. Fortuna continued to be in control for most of the fight and started punishing Velasquez badly, until the tenth round when the referee stepped in and waved off the fight.

On 20 January, 2018 Fortuna was scheduled to fight Robert Easter Jr for his IBF lightweight belt. However, Fortuna was not able to make weight and Easter Jr's IBF belt was not on the line. Easter Jr ended up victorious, via a debatable split-decision. Two judges scored the fight in favor of the champion, 115-112 and 114-113 and one in favor of Fortuna 114-113.

On 16 June, 2018 Fortuna battled Adrian Granados. In an accidental clash, Fortuna was pushed out of the ring and had to be carried out of the arena on a stretcher. The bout ended in a no-contest decision.

On 2 November, 2019 Fortuna Jesus Cuellar and dominated him to a second-round TKO victory.

### Fortuna vs. Campbell cancellation

Fortuna was supposed to face Luke Campbell on April 17, 2020 for the vacant WBC lightweight title, but the fight was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

### Fortuna vs. Linares cancellation

Fortuna was scheduled to face former world champion Jorge Linares on August 28, 2020, but the fight was cancelled after Linares tested positive for Covid-19.

### Fortuna vs. Garcia

On July 16, 2022 Fortuna fought Ryan Garcia at super lightweight in Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. Garcia defeated Fortuna in 6 rounds via TKO.

## Professional boxing record

| 44 fights | 37 wins | 4 losses |
| - | - | - |
| By knockout | 26 | 2 |
| By decision | 11 | 2 |
| Draws | 1 | 1 |
| No contests | 2 | 2 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
| 44 | Loss | 37–4–1 (2) | Ryan Garcia | KO | 6 (12), 0:27 | Jul 16, 2022 | Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, California, U.S. | |
| 43 | Win | 37–3–1 (2) | Rafael Hernandez | KO | 1 (10) 2:49 | Feb 20, 2022 | Pabellon de Esgrima, Centro Olimpico, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic | |
| 42 | Loss | 36–3–1 (2) | Joseph Diaz | UD | 12 | Jul 9, 2021 | Banc of California Stadium, Los Angeles, California, U.S. | For vacant WBC interim lightweight title |
| 41 | Win | 36–2–1 (2) | Antonio Lozada Jr. | KO | 6 (10), 2:34 | Nov 21, 2020 | Staples Center, Los Ángeles, California, U.S. | |
| 40 | Win | 35–2–1 (2) | Jesús Cuellar | TKO | 2 (10), 2:01 | Nov 2, 2019 | MGM National Harbor, Oxon Hill, Maryland, U.S. | |
| 39 | Win | 34–2–1 (2) | Sharif Bogere | UD | 10 | Feb 9, 2019 | Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, California, U.S. | |
| 38 | NC | 33–2–1 (2) | Adrián Granados | ND | 4 (10), 2:50 | Jun 16, 2018 | The Ford Center at The Star, Frisco, Texas, USA | Fortuna accidentally injured when he fell out of the ring. |
| 37 | Loss | 33–2–1 (1) | Robert Easter Jr. | SD | 12 | Jan 20, 2018 | Barclays Center, Brooklyn, USA | For IBF Lightweight Title. |
| 36 | Win | 33–1–1 (1) | Nicolas Polanco | UD | 10 | Sep 14, 2017 | Hotel Jaragua, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic | |
| 35 | Win | 32–1–1 (1) | Mario Beltre | TKO | 2 (10), 2:59 | Jun 24, 2017 | Hotel Jaragua, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic | |
| 34 | Win | 31–1–1 (1) | Omar Douglas | UD | 10 | Nov 12, 2016 | Liacouras Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA | |
| 33 | Win | 30–1–1 (1) | Marlyn Cabrera | TKO | 2 (10), 2:04 | Sep 24, 2016 | Sambil Commercial Center, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic | |
| 32 | Loss | 29–1–1 (1) | Jason Sosa | TKO | 11 (12), 0:45 | Jun 24, 2016 | Capital Gym, Beijing, China | Lost WBA (Regular) super featherweight title. |
| 31 | Win | 29–0–1 (1) | Carlos Velásquez | TKO | 10 (12), 0:35 | Sep 29, 2015 | Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas, Nevada | Retained WBA (Regular) super featherweight title |
| 30 | Win | 28–0–1 (1) | Bryan Vázquez | UD | 12 | May 29, 2015 | Barclays Center, Brookly, New York, USA | Won WBA (Regular) super featherweight title |
| 29 | Win | 27–0–1 (1) | Miguel Taveras | RTD | 1 (10), 3:00 | Dec 22, 2014 | Polideportvo Eleoncio Mercedes, La Romana, Dominican Republic | |
| 28 | Win | 26–0–1 (1) | Abner Cotto | KO | 5 (10), 1:32 | Nov 1, 2014 | UIC Pavilion, Chicago, Illinois, USA | |
| 27 | Win | 25–0–1 (1) | Juan Antonio Rodriguez | UD | 10 | May 31, 2014 | Tropicana Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA | |
| 26 | Win | 24–0–1 (1) | Francisco Lorenzo | TKO | 4 (10), 3:00 | Mar 10, 2014 | Polideportvo Eleoncio Mercedes, La Romana, Dominican Republic | |
| 25 | Win | 23–0–1 (1) | Manuel Castro | TKO | 3 (8) | Nov 16, 2013 | El Domo, San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, Mexico | |
| 24 | Draw | 22–0–1 (1) | Luis Franco | SD | 10 | Aug 2, 2013 | Buffalo Run Casino, Miami, Oklahoma, USA | |
| 23 | Win | 22–0 (1) | Miguel Zamudio | KO | 1 (12), 1:08 | Apr 19, 2013 | Tropicana Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA | |
| 22 | Win | 21–0 (1) | Patrick Hyland | UD | 12 | Dec 8, 2012 | MGM Grand, Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA | Won interim WBA featherweight title |
| 21 | Win | 20–0 (1) | Cristobal Cruz | TKO | 2 (10), 2:22 | Jul 6, 2012 | Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA | |
| 20 | Win | 19–0 (1) | Yuandale Evans | TKO | 1 (10) | Apr 27, 2012 | Frank Erwin Center, Austin, Texas, USA | |
| 19 | Win | 18–0 (1) | Miguel Roman | UD | 10 | Dec 16, 2011 | Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA | |
| 18 | Win | 17–0 (1) | Leopoldo Arrocha | RTD | 2 (6), 3:00 | Nov 6, 2011 | Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic | |
| 17 | Win | 16–0 (1) | Geyci Lorenzo | TKO | 1 (10), 2:39 | Sep 19, 2011 | Polideportvo Eleoncio Mercedes, La Romana, Dominican Republic | Retained WBC Youth Intercontinental featherweight title |
| 16 | Win | 15–0 (1) | Hugo Orlando Gomez | UD | 10 | May 13, 2011 | Palacio Contador Gastón Guelfi, Montevideo, Uruguay | |
| 15 | Win | 14–0 (1) | Derrick Wilson | KO | 8 (10), 2:28 | Mar 12, 2011 | MGM Grand at Foxwoods Resort, Connecticut, USA | Won vacant WBC Youth Intercontinental featherweight title |
| 14 | Win | 13–0 (1) | Victor Valenzuela | KO | 1 (8), 1:10 | Dec 1, 2010 | BB King Blues Club & Grill, New York City, U.S. | Retained WBC-NABF Junior super featherweight title |
| 13 | Win | 12–0 (1) | Gregorio Torres | UD | 6 | Oct 29, 2010 | Gimnasio de Mexicali, Mexicali, Mexico | |
| 12 | Win | 11–0 (1) | Cristian Martinez | TKO | 1 (8), 2:42 | Sep 18, 2010 | Coliseo Carlos 'Teo' Cruz, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic | |
| 11 | NC | 10–0 (1) | Francisco Lorenzo | NC | 1 (8), 0:30 | Aug 19, 2010 | Dominican Fiesta Hotel & Casino, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic | For vacant WBA Fedebol super featherweight title |
| 10 | Win | 10–0 | William Tapia | TKO | 1 (6), 2:02 | Jul 3, 2010 | Pabellon de Balonmano, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic | |
| 9 | Win | 9–0 | Juan Carlos Rosario | TKO | 2 (6), 2:51 | Mar 12, 2010 | Sosua Bay Grand Casino, Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic | |
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | Miguelo Tavarez | TKO | 1 (6), 0:30 | Dec 21, 2009 | Coliseo Carlos Teo Cruz, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic | |
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Alejandro Lebron | UD | 6 | Nov 16, 2009 | Coliseo Carlos Teo Cruz, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic | |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Carlos Diaz | UD | 4 | Sep 26, 2009 | UVI Sports & Fitness Center, Charlotte Amalie, U.S. Virgin Islands | |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Luis Sosa | KO | 1 (6), 0:34 | Aug 22, 2009 | Polideportivo, Nagua, Dominican Republic | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Ambiorix Ciriaco | KO | 2 (4) | Jul 25, 2009 | Gimnasio Pina Acevedo, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Jose Vidal Sanchez | TKO | 2 (4) | Jun 29, 2009 | Coliseo Carlos Teo Cruz, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Cristian Martinez | TKO | 1 (4), 2:32 | May 16, 2009 | Gimnasio Miguelito Rueda, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Ricardo Johnson | KO | 1 (4) | Mar 30, 2009 | Coliseo Carlos Teo Cruz, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic | |
