By Jhonny Gonzalez

It wasn't exactly a big celebration for his birthday. There were no festivities, much less a tequila binge or regulation. Instead, Edgar Sosa was just hard at work on his 31st birthday. He began very early and worked late into the night.

Sosa and his team got up early as usual, at 6:00am for cross country running as part of their training to face Filipino Ryan Bito face on September 11 at the Monumental Plaza de Toros Mexico.

After a shower, Sosa (39-6, 23 KOs) came to the facilities of Televisa, where he was special guest on "Morning Express" with Erik Morales, Ana María Estrada and Daniel Estrada, who make up the "Fantastic Four" Gala boxing in Mexico City.

After he finished the program led by Esteban Arce, Sosa was thrown into the Diaz Miron Gym, for an intense daily preparation, which consisted of an eight-round sparring session.

"Physically I feel great. They were days of heavy promotion for the Bicentennial Gala, training, commitments to sponsors and, of course, my family, but I thank God that I come win good condition and that has helped me to get ready," Sosa said.

After completion of training, Sosa had to go home to meet with his family, especially his wife and his little baby Mariana Luciana, barely two weeks old. The "celebration" for his birthday that ended Monday night, was overseeing the rest of their children, especially those returning to school after summer vacation.

"Of course it's a big sacrifice, but I do it with pleasure, first because I am passionate about my career in boxing, and second, because the most important thing to me is my family, and this effort is to build the heritage that they deserve. There will be time when God wants me to celebrate another birthday," said the WBC champion emeritus.