George El Terrible Sosa in Puerto Rico Interview: I Will Knock Out Ed Paredes!
By Robert Brizel, Head RCM Boxing Correspondent
The always ready and dangerous George ‘El Terrible’ Sosa, 27, of New Jersey is boxing’s most fearless underdog welterweight. Sosa will take on any and all comers. With a record of 13-6, all 13 of his wins have come by the knockout route. This translates to will take all fights, and it is finish them if you want to win. Sosa will face world ranked Ed Paredes on the eight bout undercard before the main event of Danny Garcia versus Mauricio Herrera at Coliseo Ruben Rodriguez in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, on March 15, 2014.
Sosa knocked out five consecutive opponents in 2013, including Julio Polanco, Carlos Rodriguez, Miguel Leon, Santos Aquino, and (in an upset) 6-2 Christopher Crosby in Baltimore last summer. In January of 2014, Sosa knocked out Cesar Gil. Sosa’s losses to Emmanuel Taylor, Wilkins Santiago, Javontae Starks, Michael Anderson, and Terrell Gausha, all by decision, might well have been closer than the decisions, all of which, according to Sosa, amounted to decision robberies in the other fighter’s hometown.
The following interview was conducted in Spanish Language by cell phone.
Real Combat Media: “George, why fight Ed Paredes a month after Terrell Gausha?”
George Sosa: “Simply put, I am well prepared for this fight, I made some mistakes in my last fight, and I have learned a lotin this training camp. Ed Paredes is a great opportunity. And this fight is at my weight, not like the Gausha fight last month, which I fought at middleweight.”
Real Combat Media: “Why such a quick turnaround to fight Ed Paredes? What prompted this decision?”
George Sosa: “I am prepared, and it is a great opportunity for me.”
Real Combat Media: “Normally you are a welterweight. Why did you fight Terrell Gausha at middleweight?”
George Sosa: “Well, we were supposed to fight at welterweight and the scheduled bout fell through. The opportunity changed, and the opportunity was presented to fight Gausha at the higher weight. It was hard to fight at the higher weight. I was well prepared, but it was more a question of the mistakes I made.”
Real Combat Media: “George, you have 13 knockouts in 13 wins. When you fight another fighter and you are far from home, do you need a knockout to win?”
George Sosa: “Yes. I have to knock my opponents out to win. I was robbed five times by decision. I have to win by knockout. I have to knock out Ed Paredes to win this Saturday.”
Real Combat Media: “Five of your losses are all by close decisions. Were these robberies? Did you beat Mike Anderson? (an eight round split decision loss in 2013).”
George Sosa: “Yes, I beat Anderson. My trainer knew it, and his trainer knew it. It should have been a unanimous decision for me. I fought in his home town, and lost a hometown decision. It’s a problem I have run into when I take fights like Michael Anderson.”
Real Combat Media: “What new preparations will you bring to the table to fight Ed Paredes different from your previous fights?”
George Sosa: “I will be utilizing hard right hands. My punches will be connecting more. I have worked on my power and ring position, developing a superior defense, and I have been doing a lot of roadwork.”
Real Combat Media: Do you have more strength and power now that you are back at welterweight?”
George Sosa: “Yes. My weight is down to super welterweight. My normal weight is 147. I prefer to prepare for 140-147 pounds.”
Real Combat Media: Would you like to fight a 10 round rematch with Michael Anderson later this year, to whom you lost a controversial eight round split decision?”
George Sosa: “10 rounds. I am sure I will knock him out the second time around with sufficient preparation, and I will work very hard for this fight. Emmanuel Taylor, Wilkins Santiago, these are among the other fighters I got robbed of the decision against who I wish to rematch with as well. I told my manager I want this rematches, and I will fight them and win if given theopportunity to rematch.”
Real Combat Media: “How will you fight Ed Paredes?”
George Sosa: “First, Ed Paredes doesn’t have much movement. He is strong, moving side to side. I will look for angles, cut off the ring, and will stand and fight strongly. It will end in a knockout one way or the other. I will not fight like I did against Michael Anderson, who was running from me. I will move accurately and break Ed Paredes’ rhythm, and I will hit him with my left hand precisely.”
Real Combat Media: “If your bout with Ed Paredes goes 10 rounds, do you think they will give you the decision in Bayamon?”
George Sosa: “Puerto Rico, Here is Bayamon, Ed Paredes has no special preference. I think I can win a ten round decision if it comes to that with them (the judges there).”
Real Combat Media: “Will you watch the main event between Danny Garcia and Mauricio Herrera after your bout?”
George Sosa: “I want to watch it. They are fighting at 140 pounds. I think Danny Garcia will win by knockout in round seven or eight.”
Real Combat Media: “How do you feel about fighting in Puerto Rico for the first time? Do you like being on the island?”
George Sosa: “I feel content. I like being here with my trainerMike Melendez, and I am grateful for the opportunity, I have many friends here in Puerto Rico, I am very happy to be here. I want to win down here for everyone! Many many of my friends are here. Mike is from Puerto Rico, and Mike’s family is big and they are all here for my fight.”
Real Combat Media: “You are fighting in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, the land of the late great Hector Macho Camacho Sr.”
George Sosa: “It’s a great opportunity to fight in front of the Latin people, and the people of Puerto Rico. I am going to win. The climate is great.”
Real Combat Media: What weight will your fight with Ed Paredes be at?”
Trainer Mike Melendez: “We took this fight on short notice, so we took this fight at a catch weight of 150 pounds, plus or minus one.”
Real Combat Media: “How many people in Puerto Rico know Mike Melendez? Who will the fans be rooting for? George Sosa or Ed Paredes?”
Trainer Mike Melendez: “Most of my family is from Bayamon! My family is huge. They (the Ed Paredes camp) will find out tomorrow. We’re gonna be the home town favorite. We have a big surprise. We have a very big Puerto Rican fan base. After we walk into the ring, you’ll see why. This is a very special guest appearance. We will also be accompanied by some of the greatest Puerto Rican fighters that ever lived. I won’t give you the names till it happens.”
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