SONSONA LOSES TITLE TO THE SCALES, FIGHT ENDS IN SPLIT DRAW
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 22 Nov 2009
It did not turn out to be a very marvellous return to Canada for Marvin Sonsona. He was 2.6 lbs. over the junior bantamweight or superflyweight limit during the official weigh-in which according to the rules of the Ontario Athletic Commission takes place during the same day as the fight. Sonsona had no choice but to vacate his world title.
Alejandro Hernandez of Mexico still needed to beat him to get the WBO world title belt. Questions were raised as to whether Sonsona was too weak and dehydrated to last the fight.
Sonsona still managed to finish the twelve round distance and prevented what would have been his first career loss. Sonsona tried to use his long reach and superior boxing skills to keep the challenger at bay. But Hernandez was persistent and closed the distance to land hooks to the body and head.
Sosnona had moments when he could have ended it early but his punches lacked their usual sting, especially his right jab. It became a close and physically draining battle as both boxers took turns pummelling each other.
The scores read: 115-113 Sonsona, 115-113 Hernandez and 114 all.
The 23 year old Hernandez ring moniker ?Payasito? means little clown. In 2008, he lost in his first attempt to win a world title against WBO flyweight king Omar Narvaez of Argentina by unanimous decision. To his credit, Hernandez (22W-8L-1D, 11KO's) preserves his reputation of having never been knocked out.
Ciso ?Kid Terrible? Morales of Talibon, Bohol won by eight round majority decision over Miguel Gonzales of Mexico. The 21 year old Morales used roughhousing tactics to neutralize his opponent?s height and reach advantage. The scores: 77-75, 78-74 for Morales and one judge had it 76 all.
Morales remains undefeated at 14 W-0L, 8 KO?s. He is ranked number 8 in the world by the WBO in the superbantamweight division and is the reigning WBO Oriental 122 lb.titlist. Both Sonsona and Morales spent their training at the IPI Gym in Mandaue City, Cebu under the guidance of Nonito Donaire,Sr.
The 19 year old 5?7? Sonsona was never expected to stay long at the 115 lb. division. He was going to bulk up sooner or later. Unfortunately, it happened before he could officially win his first title defense. Sonsona is now 14W-0L and 1 draw with 12 KO?s.
He had trouble shedding the excess pounds despite the sweat suits and training under the hot Cebu weather. Sonsona managed to do it in his title win against Jose Lopez. Sonsona has to realize that he cannot get away with it all the time. Weight fluctuations, if continued for a prolonged period, would have been detrimental to his health and career. Whether he needed to prepare for a longer period or could have benefited from the services of a nutritionist will be discussed by boxing pundits in the days to come.
The prelude to this fight brought back unpleasant memories of Manny Pacquiao and Malcolm Tunacao losing their WBC flyweight titles under similar circumstances; Dehydration in their efforts to make the weight lead to both boxers suffer knockout losses in Thailand.
Sonsona?s management team decided not to place their boxer in a similar and potentially calamitous position. There are plans for the southpaw from Gen. Santos City to campaign at the 122 lb. division.
It was at the Casino Rama in Ontario, Canada where he won the WBO superflyweight title from Jose ?Carita? Lopez of Puerto Rico by 12 round unanimous decision last September. Sonsona underwent a baptism of fire in his title win as he went past the fifth round for the first time.
POSTSCRIPT:
Sonsona entered the Philippine sports record books as the second youngest Filipino world boxing champion. He has set another record, but not the one he wants people to remember: Sonsona?s reign only lasted 2 months and 17 days.
This breaks the record of the shortest title reign of junior welterweight Roberto Cruz who won and lost his world title in a span of 2 months and 25 days in 1963.
Other short championship reigns include Manny Melchor, who in 1992 won and lost the IBF minimumweight title in 3 months and 4 days. In 2000, Joma Gamboa won and lost the WBA minimumweight title in a span of 3 months and 16 days.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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