TOO MARVELOUS FOR WORDS: MARVIN SONSONA IS CHAMP!
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 06 Sep 2009
"Marvelous" Marvin Sonsona and Jose "Carita" Lopez took turns battering each other for twelve action packed rounds but in the end it was the 19 year Filipino who emerged victorious and wrested the WBO superflyweight world title.
The 37 year old 49 fight veteran from Puerto Rico gave up too much in terms of height and reach to the relatively inexperienced southpaw from Gen. Santos City. Sonsona's sharp right jab as in Lopez' face from the opening round. Lopez countered with the textbook way to fight a left hander - right hand lead and left hook. Lopez' left hook to the body kept him in the fight. He showed his excellent survival skills every time Sonsona would stun him with a straight left.
The southpaw jinx struck in the fourth as a powerful left to the temple from Sonsona ruined Lopez' equilibrium. He fell and was visibly dazed when the referee started the count. Lopez showed the heart of a champion as he got up and fought back stunning Sonsona with a powerful right.
In the fifth and sixth rounds Lopez staged a fiery rally and hurt Sonsona on several occasions. His body shots were sapping the Filipino's strength. Lopez took Sonsona's best shots and kept firing back with powerful rights. This was now unfamiliar territory for Sonsona who has never been past the fifth round in his pro career.
The seventh round was highlighted by a breathtaking exchange of bombs at the center of the ring. In the eighth, Lopez landed a powerful left hook. Sonsona was now back pedaling. Lopez then was deducted a point for low blows which also disturbed the momentum of the fight. In the ninth Lopez' investment in body punching was visibly paying off as the tide was turning in his favor if it wasn't for the low blows.
In the final three rounds, Sonsona showed the ring generalship of veteran and shifted to smart boxing.
The boy became a man and the man is now a world champion.
The scores were unanimous: 114-111, 115-110 and 116-109. Sonsona and his cornermen, Jun Agrabio, Nonito Donaire, Sr. and manager Rajan Yraola erupted in a marvelous celebration. Marvin Sonsona is now 14W-0L with 12 KO's. He is the second youngest Filipino world boxing champion after Morris East.
POSTSCRIPT:
This would be a vindication of sorts for the people who made this fight possible. There were those who criticized the promoters and Team Sonsona - both publicly and privately- for prematurely sending a teenager into a title fight.
In the end, it was Sonsona who gave a magnificent performance well beyond his years. It was he who did the weeks of training and it was he who did not wilt under pressure.
Congratulations also to the two trainers, Donaire and Agrabio. It is very refreshing to see my countrymen working as a team instead of trying to pull each other down. Our elected officials can learn a thing or two from these two gentlemen.
Marvin Sonsona of the Philippines reacts after being announced the winner over Jose Lopez of Puerto Rico in their WBO Junior Bantamweight World Title match at Casino Rama in Orillia, Ontario September 4, 2009. REUTERS/Fred Thornhill (CANADA SPORT BOXING)
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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