Junior lightweight Dominique “Trapp” Francis will fight on his biggest platform yet as the Fighters First Management signee makes his Zuffa debut this Sunday, July 26th on Paramount+ against Argentina's Hector Andres Sosa (18-4). “Sosa is a tough competitor,” said Francis (16-0, 10 KOs). “We haven’t gotten in there yet, but I’m preparing for the best version of him. I’m gonna go in there and do what I do. He’s not gonna lay down at all. We wanna get in there and shake and bake. I want to show everyone exactly who I am. I really know how to box. If people forgot, we’re gonna wake them up. I’m gonna stay disciplined and execute exactly what I need to execute. I want to show a different level of boxing.”
In his first fight since signing with Adrian Clark's Fighters First in 2025, Francis envisions his career hitting the fast lane following an extended absence from the ring since stopping the previously unbeaten Julio Carrera Lugo in October 2024. “Fighters First Management has really put everything on the right track in my career,” said Francis. “I couldn’t ask for anything better. I’ve been staying diligent every single day and now it’s gonna be my time.”
The Opa-Locka, Miami-native Francis entered the Lugo fight as an underdog, but stole the show in a performance that showed his considerable potential in the sport. Despite now having a strong management and promotional team behind him, Francis insists that his underdog mentality will not waver. “I’ve been an underdog my whole life, but every dog has his day,” said Francis. “I’m a different type of dog. I treat every opportunity like it’s the fight of my life. Because you don’t know if you’re gonna make it out.”
While Francis’ fight on Sunday is at junior lightweight, he acknowledges that he could potentially end up competing for championships at lightweight, a division featuring several top Zuffa fighters. Although these big names loom over his future, Francis has made sure to remain focused on making his own name first. “I gotta take it one step at a time,” said Francis. “I’m not looking at those other dogs. When I come on the scene and make my noise, they’re gonna have to worry about me. I’m coming to shake it up.”
Without a fight in 2025, the 25 year-old Francis still aimed to make the most of his time, and did so by traveling out to Nebraska to spend time in training camp with boxing legend Terence Crawford. Showing his passion to reach the top tier of boxing, Francis and his father went out to Nebraska with no official invite, instead using the knowledge of Francis’ uncle to find Crawford’s gym and put in work with an eye on one of the generation’s best.
“Me and my dad were just trying to make stuff happen,” said Francis. “It was a really good experience seeing Crawford’s mindset up close. You see that he carries himself like a regular dude, and everyone gravitates to him. That let me show that I just need to keep being myself.”
With veteran coach Derik Santos, along with his father Smith Francis, in his corner, Francis explained his mentality in training camp and how his dedication to hard work day after day helps him be prepared for anything that can happen in the ring.
“I trust my team and I trust my ability,” said Francis. “If you watch too much, you might expect something and then they switch it up on you. You have to be able to make adjustments when you’re in there.
“I like to be a master at what I do, so I love the repetition. I always work hard, so this camp is just more of the same. I’m not trying to play around with a man who’s gonna stand in front of me and try to take my head off.”
