Sonsona 70 percent fit for first title defense

The Philippines’ Marvin Sonsona is in the thick of training for his first defense of the WBO super flyweight crown next month and according to his trainer Nonito Donaire, Sr., the 19-year-old champ is hitting 70 percent in conditioning. Sonsona is staking his WBO 115-lb belt against Mexican Alejandro "Payasito" Hernandez on Nov. 21 at the Casino Rama in Ontario, Canada, the very site of his title-clinching unanimous decision triumph over veteran Jose "Carita" Lopez of Puerto Rico last September. In an interview with GMA News Cebu at their Mandaue training camp, Donaire said Sonsona is looking sharp and they expect him to reach peak form right before they leave for Canada on Nov. 13. “Sa tingin ko 70 percent na siya (Sonsona)," Donaire said in Visayan dialect. “By the time na umalis kami (for Canada), nasa 110 percent shape na siya."
The undefeated Sonsona (14-0, 12 KOs) sparred for six rounds with Richard Betos of the Braveheart Boxing Club last Tuesday and went eight with the same sparmate the following day, according to a separate report by PhilBoxing.Com. The pride of General Santos City did the mitts with Donaire and shadowboxed after the sparring session and according to PhilBoxing, Sonsona impressed his trainer with his lightweight-caliber punching power. Sonsona goes up against Hernandez (22-7-1, 11 KOs), who is coming off a unanimous decision setback to compatriot Wilbert Uicab in their battle for the Mexico and NABF flyweight crowns last September. “Gagawin ko ang lahat para matalo ko ang kalaban, para sa mga Pilipino," Sonsona, regarded as the next Manny Pacquiao, told GMA-Cebu in Visayan dialect. Also busy working out at the same IPI Gym base is WBO Oriental super bantamweight champion Ciso "Kid Terrible" Morales. The 21-year-old Morales (13-0, 8 KOs) is set to battle Mexican Miguel Angel Gonzalez Piedras (10-1, 4KOs) in the undercard of the Sonsona-Hernandez rumble. It will mark the Bohol-born Morales’ first outing outside the Philippines. - GMANews.TV