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Ex-champ Sonsona poised to regain lost glory


Instead of sulking over his brief reign as world champion, Filipino youngster Marvin Sonsona is poised to bounce back and win a second title, this time at a heavier weight division. The 19-year-old Sonsona, who lost the WBO super flyweight belt when he weighed in 2.6-lbs over the limit in his first defense, is penciled to vie for the vacant WBO junior featherweight crown against Wilfredo Vasquez Jr. on Feb. 27 at the latter’s turf, Puerto Rico. According to Sonsona’s promoter Sammy Gello-ani, the pride of General Santos City is in high spirits before leaving for the US to train for the title bout with Vasquez Jr., son and namesake of the former three-division world champion.

Marvin Sonsona, left, with trainer Nonito Donaire, Sr. after his last fight.
“The team believes that Marvin will rebound in his next fight, like Manny Pacquiao moving up in weight to be a better boxer than ever," Gello-ani said in an interview with PhilBoxing.Com, referring to Pacquiao’s ascent after losing his first title to the scales early in his career. Sonsona won raves when he captured the WBO 115-division strap via a 12-round unanimous decision win over veteran Jose Lopez in Ontario, Canada last September, in the process becoming the second youngest Filipino after Morris East to win a world title. But an overweight Sonsona yielded the crown just 77 days later, the shortest ever reign for a Filipino champion. Roberto Cruz previously held the dubious record of 86 days as a junior welterweight kingpin in 1963. Despite losing the battle of the scales, though, Sonsona kept his unbeaten record intact after escaping with a draw against Alejandro Hernandez. Sonsona (14-0-1, 12 KO) is moving up two weight classes for the Vasquez fight. “Marvin will be better without being dehydrated (trying to meet the super flyweight limit). That’s what we’re looking at and we believe his natural weight should be at 122-lbs," Gello-ani said. And without weight woes, Team Sonsona is confident the young fighter will be at his best against Vasquez (17-0-1, 14 KO). “We truly believe that Sonsona will be a world champion again, his talent is extra-ordinary when he is fit to fight. Come Feb. 27th, we will be taking the belt home to our country," the promoter added. Sonsona will hold training camp at the Kennel Boxing Gym in San Leandro, California under trainer Nonito Donaire, Sr. - GMANews.TV
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