Javier Fortuna Francisco (born July 15, 1989) is a Dominican professional boxer. 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

ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes49LossRashidi EllisTKO4 (10), Nov 1, 202548LossAlfredo SantiagoTKO9 (10), Mar 1, 202547Win39–5–1 Jonatan MarianoTKO2 (6)Dec 18, 202446Loss38–5–1 Robbie Davies JrPTS10Nov 1, 202445Win38–4–1 Juan MedinaTKO2 (10), Sep 10, 202344Loss37–4–1 Ryan GarciaKO6 (12), Jul 16, 2022 43Win37–3–1 Rafael HernandezKO1 (10), Feb 20, 2022 42Loss36–3–1 Joseph DiazUD12Jul 9, 202141Win36–2–1 Antonio Lozada Jr.KO6 (10), Nov 21, 202040Win35–2–1 Jesús CuellarTKO2 (10), Nov 2, 201939Win34–2–1 Sharif BogereUD10Feb 9, 20193833–2–1 Adrián Granados4 (10), Jun 16, 201837Loss33–2–1 Robert Easter Jr.SD12Jan 20, 201836Win33–1–1 Nicolas PolancoUD10Sep 14, 201735Win32–1–1 Mario BeltreTKO2 (10), Jun 24, 201734Win31–1–1 Omar DouglasUD10Nov 12, 201633Win30–1–1 Marlyn CabreraTKO2 (10), Sep 24, 201632Loss29–1–1 Jason SosaTKO11 (12), Jun 24, 201631Win29–0–1 Carlos VelásquezTKO10 (12), Sep 29, 201530Win 28–0–1 Bryan VázquezUD12May 29, 201529Win27–0–1 Miguel TaverasRTD1 (10), Dec 22, 201428Win 26–0–1 Abner CottoKO5 (10), Nov 1, 201427Win 25–0–1 Juan Antonio RodriguezUD10May 31, 201426Win 24–0–1 Francisco LorenzoTKO4 (10), Mar 10, 201425Win 23–0–1 Manuel CastroTKO3 (8)Nov 16, 201324Draw 22–0–1 Luis Franco10Aug 2, 201323Win 22–0 Miguel ZamudioKO 1 (12), Apr 19, 201322Win 21–0 Patrick HylandUD 12 Dec 8, 2012 21Win 20–0 Cristobal CruzTKO2 (10), Jul 6, 2012 20Win 19–0 Yuandale EvansTKO 1 (10) Apr 27, 2012 19Win 18–0 Miguel RomanUD 10 Dec 16, 2011 18Win 17–0 Leopoldo Arrocha 2 (6), Nov 6, 201117Win 16–0 Geyci LorenzoTKO1 (10), Sep 19, 2011 16Win 15–0 Hugo Orlando GomezUD 10 May 13, 2011 15Win 14–0 Derrick WilsonKO 8 (10), Mar 12, 2011 14Win13–0 Victor ValenzuelaKO1 (8), Dec 1, 201013Win12–0 Gregorio TorresUD6Oct 29, 201012Win11–0 Cristian MartinezTKO1 (8), Sep 18, 201011NC10–0 Francisco Lorenzo1 (8), Aug 19, 201010Win10–0William TapiaTKO1 (6), Jul 3, 20109Win9–0Juan Carlos RosarioTKO2 (6), Mar 12, 20108Win8–0Miguelo TavarezTKO1 (6), Dec 21, 20097Win7–0Alejandro LebronUD6Nov 16, 20096Win6–0Carlos Diaz4Sep 26, 20095Win5–0Luis SosaKO1 (6), Aug 22, 20094Win4–0Ambiorix CiriacoKO2 (4)Jul 25, 20093Win3–0Jose Vidal SanchezTKO2 (4)Jun 29, 20092Win2–0Cristian Martinez1 (4), May 16, 20091Win1–0Ricardo Johnson1 (4)Mar 30, 2009

References

External links

Javier Fortuna - Profile, News Archive & Current Rankings at Box.Live