MEPRANUM, SONSONA, CONCEPCION LEAVE THE COUNTRY FRIDAY FOR DIFFERENT ASSIGNMENTS ABROAD
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 28 May 2010
Richie Mepranum.
Effective, counter-punching southpaw Richie Mepranum (25-1-1, 5 KO?s) was scheduled to leave for Los Angeles Friday night to wind up his training at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles in preparation for his Philippine Independence Day battle for the vacant WBO flyweight title against Julio Cesar Miranda (31-5-1, 24 KO?s) in Mexico.
Mepranum was joined by Filipino trainer Restituto "Buboy" Fernandez as well as Philippine bantamweight champion Eden Sonsona and world-rated featherweight Bernabe Concepcion (28-3, 15 KO?s) who is scheduled to face WBO champion Juan Manuel "Juanma" Marquez (28-0, 25 KO?s) in a title fight in Puerto Rico on July 10.
The 21 year old southpaw Sonsona (21-5, 7 KO?s) takes on the vastly experienced Genaro Garcia the 32 year old super bantamweight with a record of 36-8 with 20 knockouts on the Marquez-Concepcion card. Garcia has fought a roster of champions including WBA super bantamweight champion Wilfredo Vazquez Jr, former WBC champion Toshiaki Nishioka and WBC bantamweight champion Hozumi Hasegawa.
Garcia lost by a 7th round TKO to Vazquez Jr on November 20, 2009, suffered a 12th round TKO against Nishioka on June 3, 2009 and dropped a twelve round unanimous decision to Hasegawa on November 13, 2006.
Sonsona who is a bantamweight scored an impressive 2nd round TKO over Eilon Kedem on November 14, 2009 on the Manny Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto undercard and then scored a spectacular 8th round knockout over former world champion Mauricio Pastrana on the Pacquiao-Joshua Clottey undercard at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium on March 13, 2010.
In between his US fights Sonsona won the Philippine title with a 45 second opening round KO of Monico Laurente.
Well known Filipino TV boxing analyst Moy Lainez told us that Sonsona had trained hard and sparred well and he was confident that despite moving up in weight to face Garcia, Sonsona "will give a good fight. This is a real test for him because Garcia is no pushover."
According to Pacquiao?s adviser Michael Koncz who handles Sonsona?s fights abroad along with Pacquiao, the promising youngster would earn a title shot against Wilfredo Vazquez Jr should he beat the veteran Garcia.
However, Lainez cautioned that super bantamweight champion Vazquez Jr was "too big and too strong" for Sonsona who is only a bantamweight and it wouldn?t be wise to match him against the Puerto Rican who knocked out former WBO super flyweight champion "Marvelous" Marvin Sonsona, a cousin of Eden, in four rounds.
Lainez also told us that Mepranum who is from Sarangani, the province where Pacquiao won a congressional seat last May 10, had looked good in sparring at the Rod Nazario Gym in Sucat, Paranaque. Lainez said Mepranum who completely out-boxed power-punching Mexican Hernan "Tyson" Marquez to hand him his first setback after 27 wins with 20 knockouts last March was "a very good counter-puncher."
Miranda is coming off a 3rd round TKO over Faustino Cupul for the vacant IBF Latino title last April 4, 2010 after dropping a 12 round unanimous decision to Moruti Mthalane of South Africa who had previously lost by a 6th round TKO to IBF/IBO flyweight champion Nonito "The Filipino Flash" Donaire.
Miranda also lost a unanimous twelve round decision in a clash for the WBC interim flyweight crown against Thailand?s Pongsaklek Wonjongkam on August 24, 2009.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 3 FEBRUARY 2026: Shakur Schools Teofimo to Become 4-Division Champ; Zayas Unifies WBA/WBO Superwelter; Kelly Beats Murtazaliev
By Eric Armit, Wed, 04 Feb 2026Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimán: A Grand Week for Boxing in NY
By Mauricio Sulaimán, Wed, 04 Feb 2026Boxlab Promotions Euri Cedeno and Carlos De Leon Castro Shine in San Juan Victories
Wed, 04 Feb 2026National Boxing Hall of Fame 2026 is set to April 26 in Montebello, California
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 04 Feb 2026Vito Mielnicki Jr. Returns Home to Defend WBC USA, IBF USBA and WBO Global Middleweight Championships Against Omar Ulises Huerta
Wed, 04 Feb 2026Noah Lucas Palcis sees action in Bangkok chess meet
By Marlon Bernardino, Wed, 04 Feb 2026Reymond Yanong Edges Out Hayato Ono for Split Decision Win in Japan
By Carlos Costa, Tue, 03 Feb 2026“I’m gonna smoke whoever is in front of me, Anthony Wright- Hearn makes his pro debut March 13 at Thunderdome 53
Tue, 03 Feb 2026Pacman's Cue Club Hosts J&P 10 Ball Cup from Feb. 4 to 7
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 03 Feb 2026Mt. Apo Boulder Face Challenge is back
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 03 Feb 2026WILDER AND CHISORA FACE OFF IN ICONIC TIMES SQUARE TO ANNOUNCE APRIL 4 HEAVYWEIGHT SHOWDOWN AT THE O2 LONDON
Tue, 03 Feb 2026World Boxing appoints Tom Dielen as new Secretary General
Tue, 03 Feb 2026Sullivan Management signs 19-1 power-punching Albanian heavyweight Kristian Prenga
Tue, 03 Feb 2026Another Grandeza in MMA is coming
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 03 Feb 2026Gracie meets Zubiri in PH
By Lito delos Reyes, Mon, 02 Feb 2026