TWO PROMISING FILIPINOS ON PACQUIAO-CLOTTEY UNDERCARD
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 07 Mar 2010
Two promising Filipinos, featherweight Michael Farenas and bantamweight Eden Sonsona get a chance to prove their worthiness as future world title prospects when they see action on the undercard of “The Event” headlined by pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao and Ghana’s tough Joshua Clottey at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium on March 13.
The 25 year old Farenas, a prot?g? of former two division world champion Gerry Penalosa takes on 35 year old Joe Morales. Morales who has a record of 20-13 and 4 knockouts has dropped ten round decisions to such tough opponents as Rocky Juarez and Joan Guzman and lost by a 10th round TKO to fearsome Rogers Mtagwa. However, boxrec.com records show that Morales has lost six straight bouts although he won a ten round decision over Ildefonso Martinez last November 6.
The hard-hitting southpaw Farenas who has a record of 27-2-3 with 24 knockouts has had a career in which he has faced certified Thai patsies in-between taking on tough Mexican opponents including Walter Estrada (35-9, 24 KO’s) whom he knocked out in the very first round on May 9, 2009.
Farenas won the meaningless World Professional Boxing Federation title with a 9th round knockout over Korea’s Jae Bong Jang last October 3 and then scored a 1st round knockout over unknown Thai fighter Sathian Sokham on January 8, 2010.
Sonsona, a southpaw from General Santos City, hometown of Pacquiao and a fighter discovered by the late Rod Nazario, the former business manager of Pacquiao, will be making his second appearance on a Pacquiao card. Pacquiao had promised Nazario during a visit before the boxing man passed away to give Sonsona exposure and to help steer his career alongside his manager Rommel Nazario, the son of Rod.
The 21 year old Sonsona (20-5, 6 KO’s) faces former world champion Mauricio Pastrana of Colombia who even at 37 still has a lot of fight left in him, although he lost a unanimous twelve round decision to Leon Moore of Guyana in a clash for the vacant Continental Americans and North American Boxing Association titles last September 26.
Pastrana also dropped a unanimous eight round decision to undefeated Victor Fonseca (14-0, 8 KO’s) last July 11 but won by a 3rd round knockout over Victor Peralta of Colombia on June 19, 2009.
Sonsona impressed Pacquiao as well as Top Rank promoter Bob Arum when he scored a smashing 2nd round TKO over Eilon Kedem on the Pacquiao-Miguel C otto undercard last November 14 before scoring a sensational one-punch knockout to win the vacant Philippine bantamweight title in a battle with Monico Laurente on December 12, 2009. Sonsona staggered Laurente before unleashing a wicked left that sent Laurente crashing to the canvas where he lay for some time before being escorted by doctors and handlers to his corner.
Sonsona who is being trained by Restituto “Buboy” Fernandez, the assistant trainer of Pacquiao at the Wild Card Gym has looked good and his manager Rommel Nazario has high hopes for the flashy southpaw who has developed his punching power as indicated in his last two fights.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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