Sonsona?s Moment of Truth Nears
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 03 Sep 2009
Once you take away the hype, the photo-ops, and the press releases, boxing is reduced to its bare essentials: two men stripped to the waist, wearing padded leather gloves, throwing punches sharpened to knock their opponents into submission. It is a fraternity not for the faint hearted. It has maimed bodies and crushed souls. Only a select and fortunate few reach the apex of their chosen profession.
On the morning of September 5, the eyes and expectations of the Philippines will be on a nineteen year old southpaw from Gen. Santos City. It will be a daunting task for Marvin Sonsona. He is fighting overseas for the first time. This will be his first fight in the 115 pound division and he will face an experienced Puerto Rican champion, Jose Lopez, who is eighteen years his senior.
Trainer Nonito Donaire,Sr. expressed confidence that Sonsona can carry his power one division higher. Together with Marvin?s long time trainer Jun Agrabio, they have formulated a strategy that will maximize Sonsona?s physical advantages. They have also worked on his endurance. He has never been past the fifth round.
Last May, Sonsona (13W with 12 KO?s ? 0 L) scored the biggest victory of his young career when he knocked out cold two-time WBC interim world titlist Wandee Singwancha of Thailand in two rounds for the vacant WBO Oriental flyweight title. His mental preparation will play a crucial role. The undefeated Sonsona has to enter the ring with the mind set that this is not his coronation. This is a boxing match. Lopez will not let go of his title without a fight. He will try to frustrate Sonsona and dent his psyche.
Sonsona?s cornermen will play a crucial role. They will be the ones thinking about the necessary adjustments and they have to make sure their boxer will listen to the instructions in between rounds. Lopez has never been stopped and they have to anticipate an extended ring battle.
Lopez has faced tough opposition and has lost five previous attempts at winning a world title. In 1996, he lost to Alberto Jimenez of Mexico by 12 round UD for the WBO flyweight belt. He lost his subsequent attempts at the same title against Carlos Gabriel Salazar (L UD 12 1998) and Isidro Garcia (L UD12 1999). In 2001 he also lost to Colombian Mauricio Pastrana by 12 round unanimous decision for the IBA superflyweight belt. Later that same year, he lost to Fernando Montiel by unanimous decision again for the WBO flyweight title.
Lopez' persistence paid off in March of this year when he won the vacant WBO superflyweight title with a 12 round unanimous decision win over Thailand's Pramuansak Posuwan. He will be making his first title defense against Sonsona. Lopez is not ranked among the top ten 115 lb. boxers in the ratings of the Ring magazine website where Z Gorres is ranked number 4 and Nonito Donaire,Jr just entered at number 10. Boxrec.com ranks Lopez at number 7, Gorres at number 8 and Donaire at number 2. Vic Darchinyan remains the top superflyweight in both websites.
The fight card is billed as ?Rumble in Rama IX? and will be held at the Casino Rama in Ontario, Canada. The headliner will be Canadian former IBF junior featherweight champ Steve Molitor vs. veteran Dario Azuaga of Paraguay.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Press Conference Notes: Puerto Rican Star Xander Zayas Ready for Saturday's Hometown Unification Battle against Abass Baraou
Fri, 30 Jan 2026PFDA Grass Nationals in Tagum on June 5-7
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 30 Jan 2026‘THE RING 6’ TEOFIMO LOPEZ VS. SHAKUR STEVENSON PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
Fri, 30 Jan 2026NEWCASTLE PRESS CONFERENCE: WHAT WAS SAID AS JOSH KELLY AND BAKHRAM MURTAZALIEV ARE KEPT APART AFTER HEATED FACE-OFF
Fri, 30 Jan 2026Weights From ProBoxTV’s ‘Flores vs. Castillo’ at Live! Casino Hotel Maryland
Fri, 30 Jan 2026WAPA Deportes Confirmed as Puerto Rican Broadcast Home for Saturday’s Xander Zayas vs. Abass Baraou Title Unification Showdown
Fri, 30 Jan 2026Legendary Panamanian Juan Carlos Tapia will be inducted into the Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Fri, 30 Jan 2026Manny Pacquiao Promotions Announces Additional Matchups for Saturday, February 28 Event at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York
Fri, 30 Jan 2026SWERVE TV STRIKES MULTI-YEAR PARTNERSHIP WITH GOLDEN BOY PROMOTIONS TO EXPAND PREMIUM BOXING CONTENT
Fri, 30 Jan 2026Leuenbergers to join IRONMAN® 70.3 Davao
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 30 Jan 2026Open Workout: Xander Zayas and Abass Baraou Prepare For Saturday's Unification Showdown in Puerto Rico
Thu, 29 Jan 2026Cabrera-Zapata Kicks Off All Star Boxing's 2026 Season
Thu, 29 Jan 2026Manny Pacquiao Chess Philippines: Cash prizes, FIDE rating at stakes this Sunday
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 29 Jan 2026IBP Fun Run & Family Day on February 15
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 29 Jan 2026TEOFIMO LOPEZ AND SHAKUR STEVENSON FACE-OFF AT KNICKS GAME AS COUNTDOWN TO ‘THE RING 6’ ON SATURDAY BEGINS
Wed, 28 Jan 2026