SONSONA IN MAIN UNDERCARD OF COTTO-MARTINEZ PPV
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 13 May 2014
CEBU ? From an almost forgotten boxing phenom to the top of the world in four months. Marvin Sonsona's life is never wanting of any drama, so it seems. Only last February, Sonsona has been given up for lost ? but a short left uppercut, described by promoter Bob Arum as a punch he has never seen in his more than 50 years in boxing, that zeroed in and flattened Japanese contender Akifumi Shimoda last Feb. 22 in Macau in Sonsona's comeback fight, changed everything.
Now, Sonsona is penciled to face former tormentor Wilfredo Vazquez Jr in the main undercard of the mammoth Miguel Cotto vs Sergio Matinez HBO pay-per-view on June 7 at the very mecca of boxing, Madison Square Garden in New York to be potentially viewed by more than a million HBO paying subscribers.
What a leap of billing for Gensan's prodigal son, when, only last September, Sonsona was fighting in a remote town in Cebu in front of a few hundred spectators. And what a leap of setting for the comebacking kid who currently trains at the spartan-like gym of his manager in Quezon City to fight in the glitz and glamour that is New York.
Aside from Manny Pacquiao, there were only few Filipino boxers whose fights were shown on pay-per-view. The Miguel Vazquez vs Mercito Gesta and Yuriorkis Gamboa vs Michael Farenas were shown on HBO PPV on the undercard of Pacquiao-Marquez on Dec. 8, 2012; Rey 'Boom-Boom' Bautista vs Sergio Manuel Medina was the PPV opener of the De La Hoya-Mayweather fight on May 5, 2007; and the Gerry Pe?alosa vs Daniel Ponce de Leon was shown on PPV on the undercard of Marco Antonio Barrera vs Juan Manuel Marquez on March 17, 2007. The Sonsona-Vazquez fight however will be shown just before the Cotto-Martinez main event as a co-feature bout.
Sonsona (18-1-1, 15KO) became the WBO super flyweight world champion at 19 years old in Sep., 2009 by defeating Jose Lopez in Ontario, Canada and defended the title once with a draw against Alejandro Hernandez, also in Canada two months later. Sonsona later vacated the title to move up in weight and fought Wilfredo Vazquez Jr for the vacant WBO super bantamweight title on Feb. 27, 2010 in Puerto Rico where Sonsona was knocked out by Vazquez in the 4th round. Vazquez (23-3-1, 19KO) defended the title twice before losing it to Jorge Arce in May, 2011.
The Sonsona-Vazquez rematch is for the vacant North American Boxing Federation featherweight title.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Introducing The Spartan Series: Vegas Fight Experience — Where Authentic Sparring Meets Cinematic Vegas Energy
Sun, 08 Jun 2025RESULTS FROM TONIGHT’S “HALL OF FAME FIGHT NIGHT” PRESENTED BY SALITA PROMOTIONS & ALL THE SMOKE FIGHT LIVE ON DAZN AT THE TURNING STONE RESORT CASINO
Sat, 07 Jun 2025Davis vs De Los Santos: The Fight That Never Was
By Chris Carlson, Sat, 07 Jun 20252 Filipino grandmasters join Touchmove chess tourney
By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 07 Jun 2025Keyshawn Davis Fight Canceled After Weight Miss, Mason-Nakathila Elevated to Main Event
By Dong Secuya, Sat, 07 Jun 2025Eumir Marcial Set to Battle Alexis Gaytán in Pacquiao's Comeback Show
By Carlos Costa, Sat, 07 Jun 2025SUNDAY: Fabio Turchi-Milans Volkovs Cruiserweight Showdown Headlines Italy Fight Card LIVE in the U.S. on ESPN+
Sat, 07 Jun 2025Bomogao KOs Rubio in 1st round
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 07 Jun 2025REYES CUP SET FOR ELECTRIFYING RETURN TO MANILA, OCTOBER 16–19
Sat, 07 Jun 2025King's Promotions June 19th Card at Wind Creek Event Center is Postponed Card Rescheduled for September 5th
Sat, 07 Jun 2025THRILLA IN MANILA GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY 7 - AMATEUR BOXING CAREER OF MUHAMMAD ALI
By Maloney L. Samaco, Fri, 06 Jun 2025Indiana, Haliburton Do It Again, Pacers Shock OKC on the Road, 111-110
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Fri, 06 Jun 2025STAR BOXING PRESENTS SPECIAL PRESS CONFERENCE-MONDAY
Fri, 06 Jun 2025Undefeated Super Bantamweight Chavez Barrientes Returns June 7th Against Sharone Carter on Most Valuable Prospects 13 Card
Fri, 06 Jun 2025Vasiliy Lomachenko Announces Retirement: A Glorious Chapter Closes in Boxing History
By Dong Secuya, Fri, 06 Jun 2025