THE way he performed over the weekend, it seems apparent former world champion Mavin ?Marvelous? Sonsona will need a couple of fights before he aims for another shot at a world title.
Ranged against a reported overweight opponent Carlos Fulgencio of the Dominican Republic, Sonsona?s timing was obviously off as he struggled to connect his vaunted combinations that made him a world champion at age 19.
Sonsona?s 10-round non-title bout was supposed to be a superbantamweight battle set at 122lbs but Fulgencio reportedly planed in a few pounds above the limit.
?I allowed the bout to push through to also see if Marvin is comfortable fighting in the featherweight division,? said promoter Sammy Gello-ani.
During the weigh-in Fulgencio tallied 126? while Sonsona, who won via 5th round stoppage, registered 128lbs.
One broadcast executive who has covered countless events in sports said Sonsona?s latest performance was a letdown considering that the once-troubled boxer made an assurance on national TV about his intention.
?I heard a lot of good stories about his skills and this is the first time for me to see him fight. Honestly, I don?t think that kind of performance will propel him to become a world champion,? said the executive who declined to be named.
Still, the 21-year-old Sonsona will have enough time to prove his critics wrong as he is being scheduled by Gello-ani to another bout in May also in Cebu.
KING SPARMATE… Manny Pacquiao will have one sure sparring partner in preparing for undefeated American Tim Bradley.
British superstar Amir ?King? Khan has stated he is set to fly to the Philippines first week of April and join Pacquiao in training camp which will most likely be in Baguio City.
Khan disclosed his plans during a press conference in London announcing his rematch opposite American tormentor Lamont Peterson.
Khan said he was informed by chief trainer Freddie Roach about the scheduled training in the Philippines which will last for about four to six weeks.
Khan, who is also trained by Roach, will try to reclaim the world junior welterweight crown he lost last December to Peterson.
Khan will meet Peterson in a rematch on May 19 in Las Vegas. Pacquiao meantime stakes his welterweight crown against Bradley on June 9 also in Las Vegas.
?PRODIGAL SON?… Newly-crowned world flyweight champion Sonny Boy Jaro has one serious advice for former stablemate Bernabe Concepcion.
According to Jaro, Concepcion still has the tools to become a world champion but the Bicolano fighter must first mend fences with former manager Aljoe Jaro.
Recently Concepcion lost in a world title eliminator when he was stopped in the 8th round by undefeated prospect Mikey Garcia in Puerto Rico.
Jaro said the time is ripe for Concepcion to reunite with Aljoe now that the Bicolano boxer will most likely be abandoned by his current handlers after the stinging loss.
?I was in the same situation before but I realized how important it was to be with someone who?s been with me since I entered boxing,? said Jaro.
A few years ago Jaro deserted his manager Aljoe, who are not related, when a lucrative offer from another camp came his way.
After a string of losses Jaro decided to reunite with Aljoe which eventually led to a shocking upset over longtime WBC champion Pongsaklek Wonjongkam of Thailand a few weeks ago.
TERRIBLE RETURNS… This Sunday, Mexican superstar Erik ?El Terrible? Morales takes the toughest challenge of his latest comeback fight when he battles Danny Garcia.
The 35-year-old Morales (52-7, 36 knockouts) will stake his WBC lightelterweight crown against the undefeated Garcia (22-0, 14 KO?s) this Sunday at the Reliant Arena in Houston, Texas.
The bout will be aired live via AKTV on IBC-13 starting at 12NN.
