Interim WBA World Featherweight Champion Javier “El Abejon” Fortuna (born July 7, 1990 in La Romana, Dominican Republic) is an undefeated featherweight division and one of boxing’s most promising prospects.

Southpaw Fortuna was raised in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, where he first picked up the sport a little over a decade ago. Fortuna had a successful amateur career that saw him winning a number of domestic and international titles including a Pan American silver medal and a gold medal at Dominican National Championships. He was also a member of the Dominican National Team.

Despite being a very talented amateur, Fortuna turned professional at just 17 years old, deciding his style would be more suited to the paid ranks for boxing.

Fortuna is trained by Pablo Sarmiento at the World Crown Sports Gym in Oxnard, California.

Fortuna made his debut in March 2009 and swiftly stopped Ricardo Johnson inside a round. It didn’t take long for him to rack up more victories, in fact by the end of 2009, he had swiftly moved to 8-0 (6) with only experienced journeymen Alejandro Lebron and Carlos Diaz managing to survive the scheduled distances.

Near the end of 2010, Fortuna made his US debut and left the previously unbeaten Victor Valenzuela unconscious on the canvas after landing a highlight reel shot.

In March 2011 Fortuna won his first professional boxing title as he claimed the vacant WBC Youth Intercontinental Featherweight title stopping Derrick Wilson in 8 rounds after dropping Wilson 4 times. Whilst it had been the longest fight of Fortuna’s career it was also one of the most destructive with Fortuna’s power and skill really shining through.

Fortuna would add 4 more wins to his record including outpointing Miguel Roman (who would later go on to fight for the WBC Lightweight title).

In April 2012, Fortuna scored an outstanding first-round knockout over the previously unbeaten Yuandale Evans.
Going into the bout Fortuna was seen as the slight underdog in a very solid bit of matchmaking.

Fortuna returned to the ring on July 6, as he dismantled former world champion Cristobal Cruz (39-14-3-1, 23) in just two rounds, making an emphatic statement to the Featherweight division. The win over Cruz may well be the sort of win that will help move Fortuna in to world title contention.

With skills, power, experience and a tricky southpaw stance there really is no limit on how far “El Abejon” can go.