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Sonsona Vies for Vacant OPBF Crown Today
By Virgi T. Romano PhilBoxing.com Sat, 06 Oct 2007
Youthful Eden Sonsona, the reigning Philippine super flyweight champion, will try to add another regional belt for the country when he challenges Japanese Kohei Kono for the vacant Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) crown today (October 6) at the famous Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan.
The 18-year-old Sonsona, a native of Bola, Gen. Santos City, who sport a record of 12-1 with two knockouts, had long been waiting for this fight to materialized after being left-out in the cold when a Japanese and a Thai fighter slugged it out in an elimination last December despite the fact that Sonsona holds the No. 1 position in the rankings.
Philippine boxing is currently in the limelight both locally and internationally, having won a number of world and regional titles like WBO, IBF, WBO AsPac, IBF Intercon, WBF and OPBF.
Sonsona, whose father was known in local boxing circle during the 80s as Boy Samson, only realized his dream of becoming a regional champion when the Japanese titlist relinquished the throne two months ago to fight for the world championship.
Kono, on the other hand, enjoys a 19-3 win-loss record with 7 KOs and had said to be his first time to fight a southpaw in Sonsona.
Before departing for Japan last Wednesday, Sonsona, together with his father Boy who also work in his corner, promised to win the title as an early birthday gift for himself. He will turn 19 on December 27. #
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Virgi T. Romano.
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