MARVIN SONSONA BATTLES SHIMODA FOR WBO INTERNATIONAL TITLE
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 29 Jan 2014
In a huge fight that could restart his promising career former world super flyweight champion ?Marvelous? Marvin Sonsona returns to the ring to battle Japan?s former WBA super bantamweight champion Akifumi Shimoda of Japan in a blockbuster Top Rank Card at the Cotai Arena in Macau on February 22.
The 23 year old Sonsona who has a record of 17-1-1n with 14 knockouts was earlier touted as the second youngest Filipino boxer to become a world champion at the age of 19 when he wrestled the WBO Super Flyweight title from veteran Jose Carita Lopez of Puerto Rico in September 4, 2009 in Ontario, Canada.
However, the fun-loving Sonsona was unable to sustain his momentum when he was stripped off his world title belt after failing to meet the 115-lb. requirement just before entering the ring against Mexican Alejandro Hernandez of on November 21 of the same year. The fight, also held in Canada, ended in a draw.
Just three months after being stripped off his world title, his international promoter & matchmaker and partner of well-known Filipno promoter Sammy Gelloani, Sampson Lewkowicz gave Sonsona another shot at becoming a world champion via the vacant WBO World Super Bantamweight title fight against undefeated Wilfredo Vasquez Jr. in February 27, 2010. The Filipino boxer was unfortunately stopped in the 4th round.
Amidst speculations that his world title win was a fluke Sonsona fought back to score a unanimous decision against Mexico?s Carlos Jacobo at the Hoops Dome in Lapu Lapu City and followed this up with a 5th round knockout over Carlos Fulgencio of the Dominican Republic on March 17, 2012 indicating he was back on track.
Lewkowicz then sent Sonsona to train the US in June 2012 for a scheduled fight against Orlando Cruz in Las Vegas on July 7, 2012 fight against Orlando Cruz in Las Vegas. A thigh injury however cut short his training and put on hold his boxing career for over a year.
On September 7, 2013, Sonsona fought and won over veteran Jason Egera in Balamban, Cebu. That fight was to prepare him for the planned WBC World Cup happening in December of the same year, the first event was to be held in Russia. The event was postponed indefinitely however following WBC President Sulaiman?s heart surgery which was followed by his passing..
Gello ani told the Manila Standard that Sonsona?s ?training was again shelved when his house in Brgy. Bula, General Santos City recently burned down. Sonsona and his family lost all their belongings and by this time, what prize money he had won in his previous fights had long been depleted. The series of unfortunate events in the young boxer?s life served as an eye opener for him and has hopefully given him the maturity and drive to persevere in his training and to further hone his skill inside the ring? in a battle of southpaws. Sonsona contacted his Philippine promoter Sammy Gello-ani to ask for another chance.
The Standard learned that Sonsona has been training hard at the Elorde Gym in Tandang Sora under his former trainer Jun Agrabio and is reportedly doing well.
The 29 year old Shimoda won the WBA super bantamweight title with a twelve round unanimous decision over Ryol Li Lee but lost it nto Rico Ramos by a 7th round knockout on July 9, 2011.
Shimoda figured in a ten round majority draw with Roli Gasca on April 6, 2013 before scoring a ten round unanimous decision win over Mexico?s Alejandro Hernandez on September 7, 2013.
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