Omar Trinidad is still just 17 fights into his pro career, with number 18 coming up on Saturday against Hector Andres Sosa at Commerce Casino in Commerce, California. But if you look at how he’s progressed and what he’s stepping into this weekend in his first 12-rounder, it’s evident that he’s about to step into a new world in 2025 if he beats Sosa.
He knows it, too. And he’s already starting to look at the landscape of the Top 15 at 126 pounds, especially the WBC and IBF rankings, where he currently sits in the 10 and 13 spots, respectively.
“I’ve been keeping my eye on that list as I went up,” Trinidad said. “I’ve been looking at the top names and, yeah, I look at them because they could be a potential fight in the near future. Who knows, even next year may be a title shot or any of those heavy hitters. I’m getting this fight out of the way in October and just focusing on this one until I get called out, and I’m sure I’ll be ready.”
Winner of 16 in a row since a draw in his pro debut in 2018, with 13 of those wins coming by way of knockout, the 28-year-old has done all that’s been asked of him against anyone put in front of him, and he’s built a large fan following along the way, earning him the unofficial nickname “King of Los Angeles.” That’s quite the compliment, given the talent that always seems to come from the area, but through it all, he’s remained grounded.
“I don’t mind the attention,” he said. “I like to show people what I’m capable of and why I train so hard for it. I feel like I’m built for it. I feel like I’m a showman and I deal good with the attention and the pressure.”
He’ll have the attention as the main event of the card, which is being aired on UFC FIGHT PASS, and as far as the pressure, he’ll get plenty of it from Argentina’s Sosa, who lives up to his nation’s tradition of toughness inside the ropes. So Trinidad has done his homework.
“I’m always curious about who I’m going to share the ring with that night,” he said. “I look at the BoxRec, I look at his opponents, and I also look at his tapes. I’ve been watching the one where he won the IBO belt (against Jazza Dickens), and I’m watching that over and over again and trying to get guys that simulate his style and practicing where I could block and counter.”
Sosa, 17-2 (9 KOs), knocked out Dickens in 10 rounds in July 2023 and followed that career-best win with a near shutout of Keenan Carbajal in June of this year, putting him in top form heading into this one. Plus, he’s never been stopped, which means Trinidad may have to go into deep waters if he wants to leave with his “0” intact.
“I’ve got enough gas in the tank to go 12 rounds,” he said. “I know he’s a tough guy, he has heart, but I’m going to be the one that’s going to ruin his night and try to get the early stoppage or go put him in a blender for 12 rounds.”
That blender stuff sounds harsh.
“Boxing ain’t nice,” Trinidad laughs. “I’m just trying to show him that I was born to be a fighter and that’s my night. Nobody’s going to take that away from me.”
And truth be told, with his last two wins ending in the 10th and eighth rounds, Trinidad does carry his power late, so if it’s early or late, he’s chasing a finish.
“That’s why I say I’m going to put him in a blender because I’m going to shred him little by little,” he said. “And when I see the opening, I’ll throw the power shot and hopefully that takes him out. Most of the time, they get back up, but they don’t get back up the same. I noticed that I carry that power in the late rounds, and it’s all from the work at the gym. My coach (Don Chuy Lopez) teaches me the precision and timing. So I always keep that in mind and I always try to be smart, pick my shots and get them in the late rounds.”
If Trinidad hits his mark, he may have another look at the rankings and see his name move up, which is almost as good as a win sometimes.
“It feels nice,” he said. “I started from nothing. I remember looking at the stars that they (Boxrec) puts on us when they rank us and it used to be half a star, one star. And now I’m four stars and it’s pretty humbling. I’m glad that all this hard work I’ve been doing all these years is actually paying off.”
All he needs is that fifth gold star.
“Oh yeah,” he said. “And with that crown next to it.”