Sonsona, Laurente dispute RP bantam belt

MANILA, Philippines - Fresh from his triumphant US debut, Eden Sonsona takes a crack at the vacant Philippine bantamweight title when he slugs it out with Monico Laurente on Dec. 12 in a big, double RP championship bout at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.

The 20-year old Sonsona from the Rod Nazario boxing gym (Parañaque), is currently rated as the country’s top bantamweight contender, while Laurente, 25, out of the Johnny Elorde boxing stable (Parañaque City), is ranked No. 4.

The two will fight it out over 12-rounds in the boxing card dubbed “Quest For Glory” and presented by San Miguel Beer-Samahang Walang Katulad, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), GSIS, Petron and Biogenic Isopropyl Alcohol in cooperation with Rod Nazario’s In This Corner, the Rizal Provincial Government under Gov. JunJun Ynares and former Gov. Casimiro “Ito” Ynares.

Sonsona, cousin of former World Boxing Organization (WBO) super-flyweight champion Marvelous Marvin, is coming off a successful second round technical knockout of Eilon Kedem of Israel in the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto WBO welterweight title fight at the MGM Grand last month.

Also part of the main event of this Christmas boxing special is the RP super-flyweight title showdown between champion Danilo Pena and Marvin Tampus.

The bout, also over 12 rounds, pit two of the top 115-pound fighters in the country today.

Tampus is the current RP no.2 contender and comes from the famed Wakee Salud boxing stable in Cebu City.

Born in Bato, Leyte, the 25-year old challenger now resides in Liloan, Cebut City.

Pena is a stable mate of Sonsona at the Rod Nazario boxing gym.

The dual championship presentation, part of a special eight-fight boxing card, will be shown in the top rated program Rod Nazario’s In This Corner telecast every Sunday, 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., over NBN-4.