Philippines, 19 Jan 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


SONSONA AND HIS TRUE FOCUS TO THE GAME


PhilBoxing.com




Los Angeles, CA: It is a well-known fact that for fighters to be ultra successful, they should continually focus on their craft. Every minor detail must be given due attention as even a simple misstep may lead to disaster.

Case in point: Marvelous Marvin Sonsona.

Sonsona?s Filipino manager, Sammy Gello-ani succinctly pointed it out. ?We need to have Marvin not lose focus. After this fight, he will continue to stay in Las Vegas where he will train with Al Haymon?s stable of fighters,? he said.

Coming from Gello-ani, I have no doubt he will make that happen - at the least part that says Sonsona needs to stay in Vegas and train. But Gello-ani must also assure that each member of the Team is fully aware of its responsibility to details.

But that does mean that the kid can continue to focus unless drastic measures are taken to assure that will happen. In addition, his handlers must also focus on every little item so no potential missteps happen.

Yesterday morning, Sonsona sent an urgent text message to Philboxing photographer, Jay Otamias asking for a special favor. He wanted Otamias to contact me because apparently he forgot his mouthguards in Las Vegas! Otamias advised him to call me directly and gave him my personal cell phone number.

Then at about 9:45 am Sonsona called me. He said that he needs a mouthguard in a hurry and asked if I can make one for him.

Yes, I make mouthguards very quickly (if you can call three hours quick) but the fighter needs to be in my office so I can take an impression, make a mold and fabricate the mouthguard.

I told him that and he being housed at the Crown Plaza Hotel near LAX about 20 miles from my office, and the fact that he should check in at the StubHub at 11:00 made it impossible for us to get together and get a mouthguard done.

I also told him, as an emergency procedure, I will ask Otamias to buy a "boil and bite? mouthguard material and tea pot warmer and I can quickly fabricate a mouthguard for him in the dressing room. It may not be the best mouthguard, but it may work if correctly done, albeit not as good as a custom mouthguard.

Otamias did just that and gave Sonsona the ?boil and bite mouthguard material? just as he went inside the venue. Then he located me and asked that we go to the dugout. But Sonsona's team decided that they don?t need us any more. They will just take care of the issue themselves.

Apparently, according to Otamias, Sonsona is so excited he could not locate his primary mouthguard. How can he when he left it in Vegas? So he contacted us to take care of the issue.

Apparently the Team panicked when they found out that in California two mouthguards are required. Since they left Sonsona?s mouthguard in Vegas, and won?t be able to show the CSAC any mouthguard, they panicked and contacted us.

Guess how they took care of the issue?

According to very reliable sources, Sonsona borrowed and used the mouthguard of his teammate Jonreil Casimero who trains with him in Vegas.

They apparently placed Casimero?s mouthguard in hot water and molded it to ?fit? on Sonsona.

That certainly is very creative but extremely stupid to say the least!

It not only unnecessarily exposed Sonsona to extreme danger but allowed Casimero to lose his mouthguard as well. How can it fit him again when it was altered to ?fit? Sonsona?

The incident should not have happened if the whole Team, Sonsona and Agrabio included, were just a bit more focus particularly on the minor details. Why they apparently ?forgot? to bring the all -important mouthguards is beyond me.

Don?t? they have check list?

Incidentally, after the fight, I thought I would offer Sonsona to come to my office before they go back to Las Vegas. I will open my office even if it?s a Sunday just to accommodate him. When I called him someone else answered saying that Sonsona is not available. But I left the message just the same.

A few minutes later Otamias called me saying that he contacted them and they stated they are leaving early today for Las Vegas and would not have time to get new mouthguards that will be far better that what he presently have.

Oh well, as I told Otamias, its their loss, not mine.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ed de la Vega, DDS.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • RAUL “EL CUGÁR” CURIEL CRUISES TO UNANIMOUS DECISION WIN OVER JORDAN “THE PATRIOT” PANTHEN
    , Sat, 17 Jan 2026
  • Weights from Philadelphia
    , Sat, 17 Jan 2026
  • Mexico Commemorates 12th Death Anniversary of Don Jose Sulaiman (Photos)
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 17 Jan 2026
  • MOLLY McCANN EYES 'HUGE' STATEMENT START TO 2026 AS SHE JOINS BUMPER WOOD-WARINGTON CARD IN NOTTINGHAM ON FEBRUARY 21
    , Sat, 17 Jan 2026
  • NEW MAIN EVENT ANNOUNCED! RAUL CURIEL SCHEDULED TO FACE JORDAN PANTHEN IN MIDDLEWEIGHT SCRAP
    , Fri, 16 Jan 2026
  • SMALLS VS RAMOS TOPS STACKED UNDERCARD FOR NAVARRETE-NUNEZ BLOCKBUSTER IN GLENDALE
    , Fri, 16 Jan 2026
  • Usyk Linked to Zuffa Boxing Deal as Questions Loom Over Title Defenses
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 16 Jan 2026
  • Abass Baraou: "No One Has Been Able to Withstand My Pressure!"
    , Fri, 16 Jan 2026
  • Wise Owl Boxing Signs Rising Female Star Chantel “Chicanita” Navarro
    , Fri, 16 Jan 2026
  • Mauricio Sulaiman: WBC wants to protect fighters' dream of becoming a world champion
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 15 Jan 2026
  • Xander Zayas: "It's Time to Make History!"
    , Thu, 15 Jan 2026
  • Weights from Trenton, NJ
    , Thu, 15 Jan 2026
  • Pro Boxer and Recent Grad Returns for Fight Night on the Farm — Celebrating Stanford’s Boxing Community
    , Thu, 15 Jan 2026
  • Jamaine Ortiz Aims to Derail Keyshawn Davis’ Undefeated Streak at Madison Square Garden
    , Wed, 14 Jan 2026
  • “No bad blood from me”- Good friends become better rivals – Clarke is ready for Cruiserweight title Clash March 13 in Perth – Thunderdome 53
    , Wed, 14 Jan 2026
  • Itauma suffers injury; Magnificent 7 rescheduled to March 28
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 14 Jan 2026
  • Top Super Lightweights Bryan Flores & Starling Castillo Battle in 10-Round Main Event of ProBoxTV’s ‘The Contender Series’
    , Wed, 14 Jan 2026
  • Harden surpasses Shaquille O'Neal's to become the ninth all-time leading scorer in NBA history
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 14 Jan 2026
  • “It’s time, LFG” - Holly McMath Trilogy for WBC Title Clash March 13 in Perth – Thunderdome 53
    , Tue, 13 Jan 2026
  • IBA President Kremlev encourages sporting organisations to protect women’s sport following Trump’s statement on Imane Khelif
    , Tue, 13 Jan 2026
  • REYES, STRICKLAND, BUSTAMANTE & SOUQUET SET FOR HISTORIC SHOWDOWN AT WNT LEGENDS – EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
    , Tue, 13 Jan 2026
  • Pumicpic fights Korean in Japan
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 13 Jan 2026
  • No. 1 rated WBA Super Flyweight contender John “Scrappy” Ramirez remains patient and Looks forward to a 2026 World title shot
    , Tue, 13 Jan 2026
  • Ironman 70.3 Davao on March 22
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 13 Jan 2026
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 12 JANUARY 2026: Dalton Smith Halts Subriel Matias in 5; Kabayel Stops Knyba in 3
    By Eric Armit, , Mon, 12 Jan 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.