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GELLO-ANI HAS TAPPED ON THE FILIPINO FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH By Ken Smith, ABA PhilBoxing.com Sun, 06 Sep 2009  International promoter Sammy Gello-ani has done it again!! When newly crowned WBO super flyweight king Marvelous Marvin Sonsona wrested the crown from Jose Lopez of Puerto Rico just last night in Rama, Ontario, Canada via 12 round unanimous decision and making him the 2nd youngest Filipino to ever do such a thing, Gello-ani could be seen quietly smiling in the background with his arms raised in victory, as Sonsona became Gello-ani's second boy wonder. Ironically or fatefully, a younger Gello-ani was also the handler and advisor to former Filipino world boxing champion Morris East before he won the world championship. In 1992, after Gello-ani's guidance, East became the youngest Filipino world boxing champion. Morris East was just 19 yrs old when he won the WBA Jr welterweight title with an 11th round TKO of a Japanese fighter. East still holds the distinction as "youngest"over newly crowned champion Sonsona by just 2 months. The Cebu based boxing icon who is now known worldwide in boxing circles as "Sammy G" has made a believer out of all the boxing critics who had said his boy was "too young and inexperienced to be a world champion" [wonder what they will say now?]. Gello-ani was ridiculed by naysayers in the newspapers for putting a boxer who was "to young and unproven". Well, Sonsona put an end to that nonsense by stripping the belt from the pants of defending champ Lopez and thus Gello-ani has become the hottest promoter in the Philippines bar none. I spoke with Gello-ani just after the fight, and he said this, "We are so happy right now for Marvin and all the team, Only a few people believed in us. But, I knew that Marvin would do this.. We are all coming home tomorrow to the Philippines with the world crown." Just last year Sammy G was awarded the WBO promoter of the year from WBO President Paco Valcarcel, and WBO Asia Pacific/Orient boss Leon Pononcillo in appreciation for all of the world class WBO regional title fights that SGG Promotions has brought to the Philippines during 2008. Now Gello-ani has brought another world title belt to another Filipino fighter. Gello-ani of course could not claim all credit for the Marvelous victory. The young ones Team of the good Dr, who has obviously done a great job in getting his boxer to Sammy G, along with the prodigies, long time Filipino trainer, who really taught the kid to fight, and certainly equally important the "professor" Donarie. But the credit must go to Sammy G for getting Team Sonsona hooked up to Sampson Promotions and Orion Inc. This was a team effort of the best kind. The future is certainly bright for the new world champion Sonsona and his team, and they really did prove everyone wrong with their kid's great victory. But the reputation of boxing promoter Sammy G just took a ride on boxings fame train. I don't think that when Sammy G again arranges a world title fight for his next teenage protege that the critics will forget his fountain of youths. FOOTNOTE: I have two 17 year old boys who are both 2-0 as pros. You listening Sammy G? Top photo: Promoter Sammy Gello-ani (L) looks at Marvin Sonsona before Friday night's historic fight at Casino Rama in Ontario, Canada. Photo by Rob Cruz. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ken Smith, ABA.  |
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