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Sonsona loses boxing title to scales; camp eyes other plans

November 22, 2009 08:31:32
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Even before he could enter the boxing ring, an extra 2.7 pounds cost rising Filipino boxing star "Marvelous" Marvin Sonsona his World Boxing Organization (WBO) junior bantamweight title after his weigh-in Saturday (Canada time).

Boxing site Philboxing.com said Sonsona weighed in at 117.6 lbs, above the 115-lb contractual weight, prompting the WBO to force the warrior from General Santos City to vacate his world title.

"Marvin did not make the contractual weight of 115 lbs, however, the fight is still on. After this fight, there are plans to move Marvin Sonsona up in weight for another world title. Marvin’s coaches and management did not force Marvin to lose the extra 2.6lbs due to further possible dehydration during the fight that will put Marvin at risk," the article on Philboxing.com said.

In contrast, Sonsona's opponent Alejandro "Payasito" Hernandez weighed in at 115 lbs, and will win the vacated title if he beats Sonsona.



Sonsona, an undefeated 19-year-old warrior from General Santos City, won the WBO junior bantamweight title at Casino Rama, but lost the belt on the scale.

An article on Canada-based news site The Star said Sonsona had told his promoter Allan Tremblay at a news conference last Thursday that he weighed 120 pounds and seemed confident he could make weight.

But Tremblay said Sonsona may not remain in the 115-pound division much longer.

"He's a young guy exploding into a man," Tremblay said after Saturday's weigh-in.

Even after giving up solid food mid-week Sonsona couldn't slim down any further.

When a Friday night workout only got him to 117, Tremblay decided to forfeit the title rather than try something drastic to make weight.

"He could have drained himself down to 115, but after six rounds he would have been a depleted fighter," he said, noting the danger in sending a dehydrated fighter into the ring.

"Why kill him? Why take a possible loss when we have another plan for him anyway?" he said, referring to a plan to move Sonsona up to the 122-pound division, where Tremblay currently promotes Filipino prospect Ciso Morales and former IBF champ Steve Molitor.

Tremblay also hinted Sonsona's move to a new weight class would foreshadow a similar move by Molitor, who is currently in line to fight for the IBF's 122-pound title. - GMANews.TV
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