LEWKOWICZ: I PROVED EVERYONE WRONG
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 06 Sep 2009
Los Angeles – On the heels of 19-year-old Marvin Sonsona's storybook performance by wresting the WBO super flyweight crown from Jose 'Carita' Lopez of Puerto Rico Friday night in Ontario, Canada, international matchmaker Sampson Lewkowicz, who plotted Sonsona's fight against Lopez, told PhilBoxing.com that he proved everyone wrong.
“All the press in the Philippines and outside are against this match, saying that Sonsona is too young to challenge for the crown. But the press is the press and Picasso is Picasso,” Lewkowicz said who proclaimed himself as the 'Picasso of boxing'.
“I paint boxing. I have discovered Manny Pacquiao when no promoter in the United States would give a second look at him. Look where he is now? Pacquiao may eventually become the president of the Philippines, and after Pacquiao, Sonsona will be the next boxing superstar.”
“I am one of best matchmakers in this business, and I proved that tonight,” Lewkowicz said.
Lewkowicz also plotted the direction of another highly-regarded Filipino prospect in AJ Banal, but came short when Banal was defeated by Rafael Concepcion of Panama on July 26, 2008 in a stunning come-from-behind upset.
Lewkowicz cited the great support of the Filipinos in Canada saying that “more than half of the 6,000 plus crowd who watched the fight at Casino Rama were Filipinos. And there were more than 500 people outside who could no longer come in because we run out of tickets.”
Lost into the crowd after the fight were promoter Sammy Gello-ani, trainers Nonito Donaire, Sr. and Jun Agrabio and Sonsona's manager and wife, the Yraolas. “I lost them,” Lewkowicz quipped. “Everyone wants a piece of them.”
Lewkowicz also informed that Sonsona will most likely make the first defense of his crown in November in the same venue against a good opponent. “But for now, I want Marvin and rest of the team to have a good rest – and savor the sweetness of victory.”
Top photo: Matchmaker and promoter Sampson Lewkowicz (L) and newly crowned WBO superfly champion Marvin Sonsona making a great tandem. Photo by Rob Cruz.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.
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