THE SONSONA BUZZ
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 19 Aug 2009
Marvin “Marvelous” Sonsona's upcoming title challenge against Puerto Rico's Jose “Carita” Lopez continues to attract attention not just here in the Philippines but also in Canada's Filipino community.
Cebu based promoter Sammy Gello-ani informed this writer that Sonsona made the cover of The Filipino Bulletin in Canada. Canadian promoter Allan Tremblay informed Gello-ani that the Filipino-Canadian newspapers will be covering and advertising the fight and that Filipino Consulate will be providing Filipino flaglets which should look great on television.
It has been a hectic month for the undefeated Sonsona since the announcement for his title shot during his 19th birthday last July 25. He had a chance to meet and have a photo-op with boxing icon Manny Pacquiao. He was interviewed and profiled by various Philippine newspapers and television boxing programs. He has continued his intense training under the guidance of Jun Agrabio and Nonito Donaire,Sr. He also received tips from another Pinoy boxing great, Gerry Penalosa.
His opponent, Lopez (39 W (KO 32) + lost 7 – 2 D) is a 37 year old veteran won the vacant WBO superflyweight title last March with a 12 round unanimous decision win over Pramuansak Posuwan of Thailand. Sonsona had a chance to see Posuwan fight in Naga,Cebu last July 31 and the Thai lost a split decision to Federico Catubay.
Sonsona's title shot has drawn mixed reactions, from approval to apprehension. Sonsona (13W-OL, 12KO's) has never gone past the fifth round. But choosing a prospect and determining his readiness has never been a exact science. Promoters match them, we sportswriters only write about them, but it is boxers who do the fighting. There are those who live up to our expectations and those who do not. We have seen our share of recent disappointments. But in the end, it is the fighter's ability to withstand pressure and face adversity that separates the great ones from the pretenders.
Manny Pacquiao was 19 years old and 13 days shy of his 20th birthday when he was outboxed by Chatchai Sasakul for the first six rounds of their 1998 WBC flyweight title fight in Thailand. Pacquiao's left hand came through in the eighth. We all thought it was a “lucky shot” back then. Pacquiao would go on and do bigger things.
The fight card is billed as “Rumble at Rama IX” which will be held on September 4th, at Casino Rama, in Rama, Ontario. It also feautres Canadian Heavyweight champion Greg “The Steel Pole” Kielsa (10-0, 5 KO’s) who will take on American Kevin Monty (17-6-1, 13 KO’s) and former IBF Junior Featherweight world champion, “The Canadian Kid” Steve Molitor (29-1, 11 KO’s) who will face tough Argentine Sergio Escobar (11-8-1, 2 KO’s).
Top photo: Marvin Sonsona lands on the cover of the recent issue of the Filipino-Canadian magazine 'Filipino Bulletin.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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