?WE WERE LOOKING AFTER MARVIN?S WELFARE? ? GELLO-ANI
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 26 Nov 2009
Every boxing fan knows by now that Marvin Sonsona lost his WBO superflyweight title during the weigh-in last November 22 and his 12 round battle against Mexico?s Alejandro Hernandez in Canada ended in a split draw. But judging from the post fight reaction of boxing fans and pundits, one would think Sonsona was knocked out in the first round.
I had a chance to have a telephone conversation with promoter Sammy Gello-ani and asked his reaction regarding the negative fall out.
?The negative comments are expected but we were only looking after Marvin?s welfare.? Gello-ani said, ?He is bigger now compared to the time he fought Jose Lopez. We already anticipated he wasn?t going to make weight. That is why I already worked on a fight with Wilfredo Vasquez,Jr. at 122 lbs.?
?Would you want another ring tragedy to happen? What if what happened to Gorres would also happen to Marvin?? Gello-ani was referring to the aftermath of the Z Gorres fight in Las Vegas, where the ALA Gym boxer had to undergo emergency neurosurgery.
?Imagine if we forced Marvin to make weight, and he fights dehydrated and gets hit in the head several times. It would have been worse.? He also said that it was beyond their control that Sonsona grew more than an inch.
Gello-ani also talked about the different rules of the Boxing Commission in Canada, ?He would have less time to recover because the weigh-in was made on the day of the fight. We even had a meeting because they would not allow thicker hand wraps.
We told them he would hurt his hands, which he did during the fight, but they said these are our rules.?
Gello-ani will be leaving for China this weekend to attend Bert Batawang?s fight in Guangdong against Jack Amisa of Indonesia for the vacant WBO Asia-Pacific lt.flyweight title. Team Sonsona is aware that they will have to do some damage control. But Gello-ani would rather look to the future.
Marvin Sonsona will have to do so as well. Whether he likes it or not, he now holds the rather inglorious record of having the shortest reign among the Filipino world boxing champions. The only way he can redeem himself is if he can win another world title belt.
Above file photo: Marvin Sonsona (left) with Sammy Gello-ani last September in Casino Rama, Ontario
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Herlan Gomez, Jason Moloney Make Weight for WBC Australasia Bantamweight Battle in Australia
By Carlos Costa, Fri, 05 Dec 2025OLYMPIC BOXING 5: 1928 OLYMPICS AT AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS
By Maloney L. Samaco, Fri, 05 Dec 2025MONTE-CARLO SHOWDOWN VI PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
Fri, 05 Dec 2025Class of 2026 Announced in Canastota
Fri, 05 Dec 2025Thailand’s Niyomtrong “Knockout CPF” Decisions Junior Zárate, Becomes World Champion Again
By Carlos Costa, Fri, 05 Dec 2025WORLD RANKED FILIPINO BOXERS AS OF DECEMBER 2025 BY THE RING, WBC, WBA, IBF, AND WBO
By Maloney L. Samaco, Fri, 05 Dec 2025Shinard Bunch Takes on John Paul Magalong on Tuesday, January 13th at The UFC Gym North Brunswick in North Brunswick, NJ
Fri, 05 Dec 2025Severino and Mendoza win Blitz Asian Chess Championship for Players with Disabilities
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 05 Dec 2025Herlan Gomez Departs for Australia for Moloney Fight Saturday on DAZN
By Carlos Costa, Thu, 04 Dec 2025KENNETH LLOVER DEFENDS OPBF TITLE IN FOURTH FIGHT OF 2025
Thu, 04 Dec 2025Canoy, Mama, Into Contend in IBA Men’s World Boxing Championships in Dubai
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 04 Dec 2025CHAMPIONING MENTAL HEALTH 2: REMATCH SEASON FULL FIGHT CARD SET
Thu, 04 Dec 2025MERRY FISTMAS! World-Ranked KO Artist Ramon Cardenas Faces Erik Robles in ProBoxTV Main Event at War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale, Thursday, December 18
Thu, 04 Dec 2025THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 2 DECEMBER 2025: Kavaliauskas Wins by Split Decision Over Molina; Whittaker Stops Gavazi in 1; Malajika Wins by UD Over Paras
By Eric Armit, Wed, 03 Dec 2025WBC Strips Terence Crawford of Super Middle Title
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 03 Dec 2025