MANILA – Newly-crowned World Boxing Organization (WBO) super flyweight champion “Marvelous” Marvin Sonsona returned to the Philippines on Monday as the second-youngest Filipino boxing champion.
Sonsona, 19, arrived in the country past 4 a.m. aboard Philippine Airlines PR 103.
The teenage world champion said he is ecstatic about his victory. He also mentioned that he is very grateful to all his supporters, ABS-CBN News reported.
He overcame Puerto Rican veteran Jose “Carita” Lopez on Friday (Saturday in Manila) by unanimous decision at the Casino Rama in Ontario, Canada.
Sonsona’s bout against the 37-year-old Lopez in the “Rumble in Rama IX” fight card was the first match he fought outside the Philippines.
He prevailed in his debut fight abroad after the judges scored 116-109, 115-110, and 114-111 in favor of him.
Sonsona, who is from General Santos City just like pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao, has a record of 14-0, with 12 knockouts.
Pacquiao was also 19 when he won his first world title in 1998. But he was a few months older than Sonsona when he clinched the WBC flyweight title, Dave Pollard of SLAM! Sports noted.
Morris East remains the youngest Filipino world champion after winning the WBA junior welterweight title in 1992 at the age of 19. — With reports from FightFan.com and PhilBoxing.com
