Sonsona's title reign is shortest among Pinoy boxers

Marvin Sonsona entered his name in Philippine sports’ record books when he became the second youngest Filipino world boxing champion after winning the title on Sept. 4 this year. Last Saturday (Sunday in Manila), Sonsona once again set another record. But not the one that people wanted him to make. Losing his World Boxing Organization (WBO) crown to the scales made Sonsona’s reign as junior bantamweight king one of the shortest lasting only for two months and 17 days, according to Philboxing.com. Sonsona’s 77-day reign as world champion broke the previous record of another former Filipino title holder, Roberto Cruz, who was the junior welterweight king for two months and 25 days in 1963.
Other Filipino boxers with short world championship reigns are Manny Melchor (International Boxing Federation minimumweight crown, three months and four days in 1992) and Joma Gamboa (World Boxing Association minimumweight title in a span of three months and 16 days). Sonsona lost hist WBO junior bantamweight crown to the scales when he came in 2.6 lbs overweight before his scheduled 12-round bout against Mexican challenger Alejandro “Payasito" Hernandez, who weighed in at exactly 115 lbs. The weigh-in was held hours before both boxers climb the ring veering away from the customary ritual conducted one day before the fight. The WBO stripped Sonsona of his 115-lb belt after failing to make the weight. Sonsona’s “Pride and Glory" title fight against Hernandez ended in a split draw at the Casino Rama in Ontario, Canada. The warrior from General Santos City, however, kept his unbeaten record intact at 14-0 with 12 of his wins coming by way of knockout. – GMANews.TV