TEAM SONSONA IN CEBU, MARVIN TO TRAIN IN BAGUIO THIS OCTOBER
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 25 Sep 2009
Newly crowned WBO superflyweight world champ Marvelous Marvin Sonsona is in Cebu City feeling refreshed after his vacation in Thailand. Together with chief trainer Jun Agrabio, they attended the Cebu SCOOP Forum held at the Baseline Restaurant in Cebu City. Trainer Nonito Donaire, Sr. was also in attendance after a series of victories abroad as a cornerman.
Life has changed for the 19 year old Sonsona since he won a world title on his 14th pro fight. He said that more people recognize him and greet him when he goes to restaurants and coffee shops. During his Thailand vacation, boxing fans there approached him as well. His victory over Jose Lopez of Puerto Rico was featured in Thai boxing publications.
Sonsona will return to Gen. Santos City this weekend. He was just another contender with big dreams; now he is returning a champion. Trainer Jun Agrabio said that Sonsona will start training in Baguio City in the first week of October for his first title defense.
Promoter Sammy Gello-ani said that Marvin’s first defense will still be in Casino Rama in Ontario, Canada. Sonsona will have to adjust to the cold winter weather in Canada. Gello-ani said that if Sonsona wins, he will be defending his title against the mandatory WBO challenger here in the Philippines.
Trainer Nonito Donaire,Sr. joined Team Sonsona as co-trainer for the historic title win early this month. Both Agrabio and Donaire admit that Marvin still has chinks in his armor that need to be corrected. During the Lopez fight, he was easily getting hit with counter right hands.
Sonsona now weighs 130 pounds but he said that shedding the extra weight and making 115 will not be a problem once he starts to train. He also plays basketball when he is not in the gym.
Eight days after Sonsona’s win, Donaire was in the corner of Filipino-American boxing sensation Ana “The Hurricane” Julaton who beat Kersey Jeffries by split decision to win the International Boxing Association bantamweight championship. Donaire said that he subjects a female boxer to the same training regimen as a male fighter. He said that he worked on Julaton’s strength and he taught her to fight both inside and out.
Last weekend, Donaire worked as a cutman in the corner of Michael Katsidis when the Australian beat Vicente Escobedo of the U.S. for the vacant WBO interim lightweight title. Katsidis has a tendency to bleed because of scar tissue around his eyes and Donaire had to work feverishly to stop the bleeding. Katsidis pressured and mauled Escobedo and won by split decision.
Gello-ani emphasized the importance of continuing teamwork in scoring more victories abroad.
Meanwhile, the search for future champs continues this Friday Sept. 25 at the Cebu Coliseum FRIDAY NIGHTS LIVE fight card.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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