Sonsona scores marvelous win

LAPU-LAPU CITY, Philippines – Marvin Sonsona can keep his monicker.

Coming off a 20-month layoff, the fighter nicknamed “Marvelous” staged a big comeback Saturday evening by beating Mexico’s Carlos Jacobo before a cheering crowd at the Hoops Dome here.

Sonsona, who was only 19 when he won the WBO super-flyweight crown in 2009, was all over the taller and game Mexican, unleashing his vaunted left straights and uppercuts.

But Jacobo, who vowed to knock Sonsona out, proved to be a tough rival, connecting with some good shots of his own and at times looked ready to pull off an upset.

In the eighth round, they stood toe-to-toe and traded heavy blows, until Sonsona, now 21 and fighting as a super-bantamweight, landed the fight’s biggest blows.

He staggered Jacobo with a left uppercut before landing a straight that sent Jacobo pedaling backwards and landing on his back, by the ropes, just before the bell.

Jacobo looked dazed as he tried to get up, leaning on his gloves against the canvas. Fortunately for him, there was no time for Sonsona to finish the attack.

“If only there was enough time I would have finished him off in the eighth round,” said Sonsona at ringside.

During the break, the ring physician checked on Jacobo who kept on motioning that he wants to continue to fight. He did, but everybody knew he was gone.

Sonsona won on all three scorecards, 98-91, 98-91, 97-92, for the 10-rounder that signaled the return of the fighter from General Santos City.

“He is a very good fighter. His southpaw stands complicated matters for me. He is strong. But I am strong, too. That’s why I finished the fight,” said Jacobo through Carlos Costa, the boxing man from Panama.

The crowd cheered as Sonsona’s hands were raised by referee Bruce McTavish. They were glad to see him back in action after losing his crown by being overweight in his defense, just months after winning it.

Sonsona had problems off the ring, and was reported to be into heavy partying. But he said he’s a changed man now, two years older, maybe an inch taller, and a lot wiser.

He said he’s in no hurry to return to the top.

“Hindi ako nag-mamadali (I’m not in a hurry),” he told scribes after the fight. “I think I need two to three more tuneup fights before I take the big fight.”

He said it wasn’t easy returning to action after a long layoff. But to survive 10 rounds against an opponent who refused to roll over and die is a good indication.

“Nahirapan din ako. But I can take it. I didn’t get hurt. I still lack the timing. I still have to work on a lot of things. Madami pa kulang,” he said.

His promoter, Sammy Gello-ani, smiled from a distance watching his young fighter hurdle the first of many obstacles in his bid to regain his old status.

Sonsona was indeed marvelous in his comeback.

In the undercard, Jessie Albaracin, who looked like Manny Pacquiao, fought like Manny Pacquiao to knock out Marvin Tampus in the fifth round.

Tampus went down four times before referee Danrex Tapdasan signaled the end of the fight for the WBO Oriental super-bantamweight title in the 1:56 mark.

Other winners in the action-packed card presented by AKTV and SGG Promotions were Jessie Chris Rosales against Edison Serrano, Jerry Nardo against Ryan Illustrisisimo and John Riel Casimero against Yamagata Sentillas who went down as the bell signalling the end of the opening round sounded.