FLATBUSH — Prizefighter Julian Sosa, 20, threw rapid-fire jabs at the red-leather focus paddles his father was holding in their Flatbush gym Wednesday evening.
Aureliano Sosa circled his son in the middle of the busy Atlas Cops & Kids boxing program on East 34th Street, yelling "hook" and "jab" as Julian, laser-focused, prepared for the biggest fight of his young career.
On Friday he will compete in an undercard bout at Brooklyn's first heavyweight title match in 115 years, taking place at the Barclays Center on Jan. 16.
“Just knowing that so many boxing events happen there, it’s really exhilarating and nerve racking at the same time,” said Julian, who boxes as a junior welterweight and has a record of three wins and one draw. "I’m going to be a part of that history."
Julian is taking on Missouri-based brawler Bryan Timmons (3-6) before the heavyweight championship fight between Deontay Wilder and Artur Szpilka.
The proud father described his son as a very “smart” fighter.
“He’s one of the few boxers that can adjust to the other boxer,” Aureliano said. “If the guy’s a slugger, he’ll box.”
His own father pushed Aureliano into the sport while he was growing up in a tough part of Sunset Park.
“I started boxing as soon as I was nine years old. My big brother started training, and my dad, he didn’t want me hanging on the street,” Aureliano said.
“[My father told me], ‘If your big brother goes to the gym, then you go with him.’
He had quick success, boxing for Mexico in the 1988 Olympics and then winning the Golden Gloves in 1996.
The father eventually burned out and retired to become a worker with National Grid, where he helps stop people from stealing gas.
But he could never fully let go of the sport he loved and began mentoring young boxers and eventually was asked to lead the Flatbush program.
And like father like son. Julian caught the bug and asked his dad to take him to the boxing gym.
“He started going and enjoyed it,” Aureliano said. “He kept going. Before I knew it, I was back coaching.”
Julian now wants to emulate his dad.
“The father-son relationship, father-coach, [is] very motivational,” the young boxer said. "It can’t get better than that."
Julian will have a big cheering section at Barclays. His father's union, TWU Local 101, purchased 350 tickets to the event for fellow workers, family and friends.
"It’s prestigious to be on the card of a championship fight," said Michael Conigliaro, president of the local. "They must see something in him."
Julian said he plans to put on a "show" for his friends and family.
"I got to perform well just to make all those fans proud that they’re cheering for me."
Besides boxing, the young fighter also attends school at the College of Staten Island and performs as a rapper.
His father said while he has high hopes for his boxing career he also wants him to have other options.
“I always tell him, he always needs a plan B and plan C.”
But Julian is just focused on one thing right now.
“I believe I’m going to be ready," he said. "I can only tell you that. ”
