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Philippines, 16 Apr 2026 |
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Is Marvin Sonsona ready for the big thing? By Oliver A. Gabito, DDM PhilBoxing.com Sat, 08 Aug 2009  News from around boxing is that young prospect Marvin "Marvelous" Sonsona will be fighting the veteran Jose "Carita" Lopez of Puerto Rico, a 37 year old boxer with a record of 48 total fights 39-wins 7-losses, 32 of his wins is by way of knock out and 2 draws. He currently holds the WBO super flyweight belt and come September 4, 2009, he will defend it against Sonsona in Casino Rama, Rama, Ontario Canada. The question is: “Is Marvin Sonsona ready to fight Lopez?” Some boxing analysts and aficionados may say that he’s too young and it’s too early to give him such a big fight at his early age, the boy had just 13 professional fights, and has no exposure whatsoever fighting outside the country. Sonsona’s team, composed of trainer Jun Agrabio and Manager Dr. Rajan Yraola said in their press conference last July 25, 2009 that they admit being new to boxing, and they are just beginning to adapt to the situations that boxing may give to them. Promoter Sammy Gello-ani of SGG Promotions, the promotional outfit that gave Sonsona most of his professional fights, said that “seeing the boy outpunch his opponents on his first fight under my promotion last year at the Cebu Coliseum, was really an eye opener for me.” The promoter also added, that in their last fights, he see the boy Sonsona improving in his every bout, and at first hand seeing a lot of potential to the kid’s punching style and prowess. To tell you this, Sonsona has a professional record of 13-0, 12 of his wins came by way of knockout, and most came at the early rounds of each bout, the only fight that came the distance was with Richard Donaire, from the well known Donaire’s of boxing, the bout ended with a unanimous decision, Sonsona winning the four rounder fight in Binangonan, Rizal. His last fight was an earth shattering 2nd round KO with Wandee Singwancha of Thailand, where he got his WBO Oriental Flyweight Championship belt, adding to his previous belt, which is the WBO Asia Pacific Flyweight Youth Champion. I had the chance seeing that fight with Singwancha, the fight ended in the 2nd round and man that was a hard left hand uppercut on the jaws of the Thai boxer, the referee didn’t even bother to count and hurriedly called the ring physician to look out for the boxer who laid flat on the canvass, reminds me of the Pacquiao-Hatton fight. Sonsona is a southpaw, just turned 19 and also hails from the same city that produced the top quality boxers from the Philippines, General Santos City. He was inspired by none other than his kababayan Manny Pacquiao. When asked questions if he wanted to be like Manny, Sonsona gallantly answered, that he could not be like Manny, and that there is only one Manny Pacquiao. The boy told us that Pac-man is his idol, and he continuous to inspire him as a boxer, he is proud of his kababayan, and of how he got where he is right now. Sonsona bows to meet the expectations, and promise that he will do his best to win the WBO Superflyweight World title, and to bring another championship belt back home. According to his Philippine promoter Sammy Gello-ani, they are bringing Dodong Donaire in Sonsona’s Team as an advisor. The experience of Donaire in world title bouts will surely help the team in coping with the conditioning, training and to familiarize them in the rules and regulations of a world title fight. Donaire Sr. will be side by side with head trainer Jun Agrabio, in molding and for bringing out the best or if not the true talent that Marvin Sonsona has. Currently they are training in Dr. Yraola’s Gym at Victoria Subdivision, Mindanao Ave. Quezon City, but Gello-ani said, that they will be visiting other gym’s for the fact that Sonsona needs to familiarize himself on his movements inside a much bigger ring, The Team is preparing hard for this bout, and they are taking this seriously, they know that they are young as a team, and gladly takes advises from other experienced and well trusted people that supports them. This upcoming fight with Jose “Carita” Lopez would surely be a proving ground for Sonsona’s team, this will be a test for the young Kid, and it will also be a history in the making. If he wins this world title fight, Marvin Sonsona will make his name on the history books of boxing as the youngest Filipino boxer ever to be a world champion. I’m sure that the Filipino fight fans will support Sonsona on his mission to bring home the WBO World Super Flyweight Championship belt, it will be added as another pride and glory for the Filipino people, and for all the Filipino’s around the world. Canada is the largest continent, and I’m sure there’s a Filipino fight fan out there. I hope that you support Team Sonsona in their quest and knowing how Filipino boxers are, this will be greatly appreciated. You may say that for a while now, Marvin “Marvelous” Sonsona is hitting the news and is currently being bragged about by some people, my hanging question was, is he ready for the big thing? I think I’ll be honest with you to answer the question, and my answer would be, Why not? Top photo: Marvin Sonsona (L) sends veteran Thai champion Wandee Singwancha to the canvas in the 2nd round during their encounter last May 28, 2009 at the Cebu Coliseum in Cebu City. Photo courtesy of Dr. Rajan Yraola. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Oliver A. Gabito, DDM.  |
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