Philippines, 28 Mar 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


SONSONA MEDIA DAY INTERVIEW


PhilBoxing.com




Manhattan, New York City (06/05/2014) - At the Kingsway Gym in 1 West 28th St., 2nd Flr, New York, NY 10010, an undercard (for Cotto vs. Martinez at MSG on June 7) media workout day was done starting at 2:00 pm ET for Andy Lee, John Jackson, Marvin Sonsona and Javier Maciel.

Sensational Filipino boxer Marvin ?Marvelous? Sonsona (18 W, 15 by KO, 1 L, 1 D) arrived late, with his Team to include trainer Jun Agrabio, Filipino manager Sammy Gello-ani and philboxing.com owner/writer/photographer Dong Secuya. Upon Team Sonsona?s arrival, Top Rank?s ace publicist Lee Samuels whisked Sonsona for a quick interview with their talented reporter Crystina Poncher, who had been patiently waiting for him.

Poncher: It?s your first fight professional in the United States, on a big card (Cotto vs. Martinez) in Madison Square Garden, how happy and excited are you for this opportunity?

Sonsona: First of all, I wish to thank God for me to be given this opportunity, then most especially to Top Rank and Sampson Boxing. I am very happy and thrilled to be here.

Poncher: This fight is a rematch against Wilfredo Vasquez, Jr. In the first fight, it did not go your way, but since that fight, you had improved and gotten better, including showing us a spectacular knockout in Macau, China. What do you have to do to be victorious inside the ring come Saturday night?

Sonsona: We trained very hard for this fight. The first fight with Vasquez Jr., I trained with Nonito Donaire, Sr., who helped me a lot. Our style will be different for this fight. I am now back with my previous trainer Jun Agrabio and we made a lot of adjustments for me to win this fight.

Poncher: What would it mean to you on a big stage like Madison Square Garden, to look impressive in your performance? Where are you hoping this will take you in your career towards the future?

Sonsona: I assure you I will do my best to give a very good performance. I guarantee that the people watching will enjoy. I promise to give it my all in Madison Square Garden and to show them what I got.


After the interview, they exchanged pleasantries, and Poncher wished Sonsona well. Top Rank?s ace photographer Chris Farina immediately took the boxer to a corner for a photo op session. Sonsona calmly obliged looking ripped and ready, although his manager said he was still slightly over the weight limit for his scheduled fight on Saturday, June 7 against Wilfredo Vasquez, Jr. (23 W, 19 by KO, 3 L, 1 D), who had lost to Filipino fighter Nonito Donaire, Jr. at the Alamodome in San Antonio, TX in 2012 via split decision. This rematch between Sonsona and Vasquez Jr. will be for the vacant NABF featherweight title.

Official undercard weigh-in will be on Friday, June 6, starting at 2:30 pm in The Theater at Madison Square Garden. Cotto and Martinez will step on the scale at approximately 3:10 pm ET.

Since it was getting late, and there was no need for further training at the Kingsway Gym, Team Sonsona opted to go back to their local Manhattan Hotel. Manager Sammy Gello-ani expressed that ?they came late to the gym because they waited for Sampson ?Picasso? Lewkowicz, boxing promoter, adviser and world-class matchmaker, who despite being tied up with main event fighter Sergio Martinez, is also taking good care of Team Sonsona? in New York.

According to Gello-ani, he never gave up on Marvin Sonsona, despite his previous struggles inside and outside the squared circle. He said ?it was Lewkowicz who made everything happen for Sonsona? including his recent outing in Macau, China where he scored a well-timed KO against Japanese boxer Akifumi Shimoda (28 W, 12 by KO, 4 L, 2 D) at the Cotai Arena, Venetian Resort & Casino, the possible site of Manny Pacquiao?s next fight.

Gello-ani stated that ?this is a great opportunity for Sonsona to showcase his abilities and that he believes his ward has what it takes to win the rematch. If Sonsona could replicate his most recent performance in Macau, this will be the start of bigger things to happen; more doors will be opened for Sonsona and his Team.?

Sonsona is young and should learn from the past. He seemed very motivated to prove he has what it takes to become a world champion once again, and there is no bigger venue where to showcase his talents than the so called ?mecca of boxing? - the Madison Square Garden in New York City. This writer told Sonsona ?best of luck? and hope he wins his fight to make all Filipinos around the world including his boxing fans proud an happy.

Photo: Top Rank's Crystina Poncher (R) interviews Marvin Sonsona (C) at the Kingsway Gym in New York. Standing is Sonsona's manager Dr Rajan Yraola who acted as Sonsona's interpreter.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dr. Allan Recto.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Jesse Espinas and Leboy Atencio Ready to Rumble in Thailand, LIVE on TrillerTV (Weigh-in Photos)
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 28 Mar 2026
  • Matchroom Boxing announces new long-term contract extensions for two top UK fighters
    , Sat, 28 Mar 2026
  • Thananchai Decisions "Lucky Boy" Alicaba
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 28 Mar 2026
  • Suslenkov to defend WBA continental title against Mann at IBA.PRO 16 in Serpukhov
    , Fri, 27 Mar 2026
  • SBA Builds the Future of Billiards with SBA Next and Official Pool Hub Network
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 27 Mar 2026
  • Don King Productions Announces Challenger for Reigning WBC Cruiserweight World Champion Noel Mikaelian
    , Fri, 27 Mar 2026
  • 11-0 Brooklyn heavyweight prospect Pryce Taylor developing his skills at Deontay Wilder and Andrii Novytskyi
    , Fri, 27 Mar 2026
  • IBA welcomes the victory of common sense in the IOC policy on protecting women
    , Fri, 27 Mar 2026
  • Genetic Testing will be required in Olympic Games
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 27 Mar 2026
  • “Lucky Boy" Alicaba Ready for Action Friday in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 26 Mar 2026
  • WBO & WBA World Champion René “El Chulo” Santiago Hosts Open Media Workout Ahead of April 3 Title Defense in Tokyo
    , Thu, 26 Mar 2026
  • Former WBA FEDELATIN President Panamanian Aurelio Fiengo passes away
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 26 Mar 2026
  • The 19th edition of the Kamatyas Rapid Open and Kiddies Chess Tournament on March 28, 2026
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 26 Mar 2026
  • WIG-WHAM! MILLER PLANS ‘OLD SCHOOL’ BEATING OF PERO IN LAS VEGAS
    , Thu, 26 Mar 2026
  • ProBoxTV Bringing a Storm of Flying Leather to Thunder Studios This Saturday, March 28, as Bryan Acosta Collides with Ronny Rios in Crossroads Bantamweight Slugfest
    , Thu, 26 Mar 2026
  • Vito Mielnicki Jr. Training Camp Quotes
    , Thu, 26 Mar 2026
  • Remembering Mr. Elorde: Still the Gold Standard
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Wed, 25 Mar 2026
  • House of Representatives say yes to the Boxing Revitalization Act and it is now sent to the Senate
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 25 Mar 2026
  • Ryan ‘The Polish Prince’ Kielczweski To return after 4-year layoff to fight at home on Granite Chin’s ‘Rumble at the Rink II’ card
    , Wed, 25 Mar 2026
  • Ellaine Summer Abanco wins silver medal on tiebreak
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 25 Mar 2026
  • Catubig, McDowell win in DC Athletic 4
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 25 Mar 2026
  • Team Juna wins first competition in IRONMAN 70.3 Davao
    By Kim delos Reyes-Teves, , Wed, 25 Mar 2026
  • Round 12: Without Promoters there is no Boxing
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Wed, 25 Mar 2026
  • Mexican female IBF Champion Irma Garcia to defend on April 5 in England
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 25 Mar 2026
  • 14-0 super middleweight prospect Tommy ‘The Governor’ Hyde to headline April 18th at home in Cork, Ireland
    , Wed, 25 Mar 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.