Is Sonsona back on track?

“Marvelous” Marvin Sonsona was only 19 when he captured the WBO superflyweight title on an upset 12-round decision over Jose Lopez in Ontario three years ago. He was thrust into the limelight at a young age, too young for the teenager to handle the media attention, adulation and acclaim. The fame got into his head and Sonsona’s boxing career took a severe tailspin. Sonsona looked for guidance but couldn’t find it from his parents. He strayed, hung around in bars with dubious company, drank himself to a stupor and was even suspected of taking drugs. His weight ballooned to 150 pounds. Sonsona eventually lost the WBO title on the scales, failing to make the 115-pound limit, and when he battled Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. for the vacant WBO superbantamweight crown in February 2010, the General Santos City wunderkind was knocked out in four rounds.

Reeling from the setback to Vazquez, Sonsona stayed away from the gym for months, depressed, sulking and realizing his fair-weather friends don’t hang out with losers. Then, one day, he woke up and said there’s more to life than giving up. He sought out Cebu promoter Sammy Gello-ani who arranged his world title shot in 2009 and promised to come back with a vengeance. “Marvin knocked on my door and I opened it,” said Gello-ani. “Now, he stays with my wife and I. We give him the love and care that he never had before. He calls my wife Cora ‘Mama.’ Marvin is taking his career seriously now. He was immature before. Now, he’s different. He knows what it feels like to be on top and to be down. I’m still not content with his progress. He came back to beat (Carlos) Jacobo last year. It remains to be seen if he can become a world champion again. For my part, I’m giving him the chance to redeem himself.”

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 Redemption for Sonsona, now 21, will come in several stages. He’s fought only twice in the last two years so obviously, he’s got to stay busy and keep winning. In terms of pure talent and skills, Gello-ani said he’s convinced Sonsona has what it takes to become a world champion once more. And if Sonsona progresses in his road back to stardom, Gello-ani said he’ll try to arrange another world title shot before the year ends.

Tomorrow night, Sonsona returns to the ring against Dominican Republic contender Carlos (El Flaco) Fulgencio in a 10-round bout at the Hoops Dome in Lapu-Lapu City. Sonsona said Fulgencio has an “amateur” style and likes to box. He’ll press the action and turn it into a brawl.

Fulgencio has figured in eight fights the last two years, winning seven, so stamina isn’t expected to be a problem. His record is 19-5-1, with 12 KOs, compared to Sonsona’s 15-1-1, with 12 KOs, including four in the first round. Fulgencio has won his last four assignments and boasts a two-inch height advantage at 5-9. He once battled unbeaten IBF/IBO bantamweight titlist Abner Mares of Mexico.

Gello-ani said if Sonsona beats Fulgencio convincingly, he’ll book him for another outing in the undercard of interim IBF lightflyweight champion Johnriel Casimero’s defense against Sammy Gutierrez in Cebu on May 13. And if Sonsona impresses, the next step is to bring him to train in WBC diamond middleweight champion Sergio Martinez’ camp in Oxnard, California.

Gello-ani said he was assured by Uruguay matchmaker and Martinez’ business manager Sampson Lewkowicz, who is based in Las Vegas, that Sonsona will get another break but he’s got to earn it. Lewkowicz was responsible for signing up Sonsona for the WBO superflyweight title fight against Lopez and Casimero for the interim IBF lightflyweight championship bout against Luis Lazarte in Argentina.

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Gello-ani became an overnight YouTube sensation when he was clearly shown being kicked and punched by an Argentinian trucker, wearing a Peronista jacket, during the riot that followed Casimero’s win over Lazarte in Mar del Plata recently.

“We had some lumps and bruises but we weren’t badly hurt,” said Gello-ani. “The Argentinian fans were very apologetic. Police surrounded our hotel after the riot and even escorted us to the airport for our flight back to Manila. Right after the fight, I gave my Team Casimero jacket to Lazarte’s son as promised only to find out later he was one of those who rioted. Casimero gave his jacket to an Argentinian, Osvaldo Prado who protected him at the height of the riot. Prado hid Casimero under the ring for over 30 minutes while police dispersed the troublemakers. Our cornerman Sean Gibbons was cut in the lip and had four stitches. He also suffered fractured ribs. To show the Argentinians we’re not vindictive people, I’m inviting an Argentinian boxer to fight in the May 13 card, maybe against Sonsona or (Froilan) Saludar.”  

In tomorrow’s card, unbeaten WBO No. 2 flyweight Saludar of Polomolok stakes his WBO youth championship against Mexico’s Alejandro (Terrible) Morales in a 12-rounder. Saludar, 22, also holds the WBO Asia-Pacific crown. He turned pro in 2009 and has a record of 14-0-1, with 11 KOs, seven in the first round. Morales, 23, is fresh from outpointing Mexico’s Israel Rojas and totes a record of 13-1, with seven KOs.