Manuel Jaimes, Damian Sosa thrust Toscano Boxing into spotlight

Toscano Boxing Promotions is facing its biggest moment yet, as Jorge Toscano, the man behind the company, prepares to watch two of his most acclaimed fighters in high-profile bouts this month.

Toscano, who has successfully run business endeavors outside of boxing for more than 20 years, will watch lightweight Manuel Jaimes move up to junior welterweight and take on former world titleholder Rolando Romero (15-2, 13 KOs) on Sept. 14 at T-Mobile Arena, kicking off the Saul “Canelo” Alvarez-Edgar Berlanga pay-per-view undercard.

Additionally, junior middleweight Damian Sosa, who is signed to Toscano’s promotion and has risen to contender status, will face rising prospect Xander Zayas on Sept. 27 in New York City.

“It’s been a long road,” Toscano said. “Starting in 2018, seeing the growth – not just as fighters but as individuals. It’s been quite a journey.”

Toscano’s first show was a stark introduction to the harsh realities of boxing. Despite strong ticket sales, the night ended in disappointment when local middleweight fighter Quilisto “Kilo the Kid” Madera, the hometown hero and main event draw, was knocked out after his opponent Jerhed Fenderson had missed weight by five pounds.

“It was the worst possible thing that could happen, and it happened,” Toscano said. “But that’s boxing – a sport filled with highs and lows.”

Jaimes (16-1-1, 11 KOs), who was not signed to Toscano at the time, was added to the card through a fortuitous deal involving his coach, Steve Salas. Toscano needed a ring for the event, and Salas, known for renting out his ring, struck a deal with Toscano: Jaimes could fight on the card in exchange for the ring rental. The agreement didn’t just secure Jaimes a spot on the card – it also landed him a promoter.

“Meeting Jaimes at the gym, his determination stood out immediately,” Toscano said. “He reminded me of Leo Santa Cruz: relentless in style.”

That resolve has been necessary – and not just inside the ropes. “Last year, just before a big fight, he lost his brother,” Toscano said of Jaimes. “Then, tragically, his sister passed away shortly after. It was heart-wrenching.”

Jaimes has found a way to stay the course, and Toscano says it’s important that his fighter knows the promoter has his back. “It’s not just about business,” Toscano said. “It’s about supporting each other through thick and thin.”

Sosa, on the other hand, has taken a different path to his Sept. 27 fight. In April, he toppled undefeated prospect Marques Valle in Florida on ProBox TV, setting up the biggest opportunity of his career yet.

“He did his job and got the decision,” Toscano said of Sosa’s defeat of Valle, noting that it led directly to the Zayas matchup. “Brad [Goodman] called us right after that win and said, ‘You guys just earned the Xander fight.’”

Before this, Sosa (25-2, 12 KOs) faced uncertainty, having recovered from a loss in Canada in 2019 only to suffer another defeat in Mexico in March 2023. Toscano Boxing kept the faith, securing the fighter three subsequent bouts, including the pivotal victory over Valle. Sosa, who is now training at Robert Garcia’s Boxing Academy, has shown significant improvement.

“He looks really good,” Toscano said, citing a recent conversation with Garcia about Sosa’s ability to hang with world-class fighters like Virgil Ortiz Jr. and Lindolfo Delgado in the gym.

Now, Toscano feels a sense of pride as a former passion project evolves into a full-scale business. “It’s a sense of accomplishment for the fighters,” Toscano said. “They believed in me, trusted me with their careers, and I’m glad we could deliver for them.”

Toscano described a telling moment at a Los Angeles press conference for Jaimes’ upcoming fight when Jaimes walked off the stage and grabbed a nameplate from the table. “He had his little triangle paper with his name on it – ‘Manuel Jaimes,’” Toscano said. “I see him holding it, and he just kind of smiles. I asked, ‘Are you going to take it home or what?’ and he just started laughing.”

For Jaimes, the placard was more than just a piece of paper – it was the validation he had long sought, the recognition of being a televised fighter in a major fight promotion.

“I put my hand on his shoulder,” Toscano said, “and told him, ‘You deserve to be here.’”

Lucas Ketelle is a proud member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and author of “Inside The Ropes of Boxing” (available on Amazon). Contact him on X @LukieBoxing.