Marvelous Marvin Sonsana the 19 year old Southpaw from the same province as Pound for pound king Manny Pacquiao (General Santos City, Cotabato del Sur, Philippines) was stopped in four rounds while challenging for the vacant WBO super bantamweight title.
Sonsana was being touted as the heir apparent to fellow countryman Manny Pacquiao, the youngster had already captured a major title at super flyweight and remained undefeated with an impressive 14 wins, 12 by knockout.
I must admit when I first heard Marvin Sonsana was scheduled to fight Wilfredo Vazquez Jr on the double assault card I thought Marvellous Marvin was being thrown to the wolves. Fighting in the back yard of Vazquez (Puerto Rico) and two divisions north of where he last competed was hardly a smart move.
At such a young age Sonsana was sure to fill out his 5’ 7” frame, this was none more evident when he had no choice but to relinquish his WBO super flyweight title after only 2 months due to not being able to make the weight. Sonsana should have been given to opportunity to settle in the division before challenging for such a title.
In the opening round both fighters had a tentative start in a very close round, with Vazquez the stalker. The young Filipino’s best chance was to keep Vazquez at distance and fight on the outside, to use his rangy reach and keep the Puerto Rican at bay. However Vazquez easily drove his opponent on the back-foot and to the ropes where he took control in the third, again opting to land to the body.
In the fourth Vazquez drove Sonsana to the ropes again, ripping two lefts to the liver followed by a straight right, Sonsana went to the canvas; after a delayed reaction. Upon replay the liver blow seemed to be the damaging punch. In winning “WV2” Wilfredo Vazquez Jr follows in his father’s footsteps to capture a title in the same division as his father 18 years ago, and boosts his record to, 18-0-1, (15)
