Sonsona to train hard to regain throne

LAPU-LAPU CITY, Philippines  – After his fight with Dominican Republic’s Carlos Fulgencio, former WBO world super flyweight champion Marvin Sonsona will again climb the ring for another fight in May then undergo a rigid training in the United States in a bid to regain a world title.

Cebu fight promoter Sammy Gello-ani was looking beyond the Sonsona-Fulgencio fight, confident his ward could hurdle his foreign rival in their match set last night at the Hoops Dome in Lapu-Lapu City.

Gello-ani said Sonsona would be back in action in May in the undercard of IBF lightflyweight champion Johnriel Casimero’s title defense at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.

Then they leave the country to train in Sampson Lewkowicz’ famed training camp in Oxnard, Californa.

“If everything works well, Sonsona will be back as world champion,” said Gello-ani.

Sonsona has moved up to the featherweight class with his camp apparently avoiding a clash with Nonito Donaire.

In a press conference in Makati Wednesday, Sonsona expressed confidence he has what it takes to compete with Donaire.

“It’s fifty-fifty,” said Sonsona.

But in a separate press launch here Friday, Gello-ani said they don’t want to fight Donaire.

“I think he is comfortable in the featherweight class, I know that this plan would mean a longer time for Sonsona to win another title but we don’t want to fight Donaire,” said Gello-ani as quoted by the local press.

Sonsona has mended his wayward ways, and is now hoping to regain lost glory.

The South Cotabato native, 22, holds a record of 15 wins, 1 loss and a draw with 12 knockouts.

“I will show to everybody that I am still capable of becoming a world champion again,” said Sonsona the country’s youngest world champion, who also had the shortest reign.

Sonsona, then 19, claimed the WBO 115-pound crown with a unanimous decision over Jose Lopez on Sept. 4, 2009 at Casino Rama in Ontario, Canada.

But he reigned for only two months after he was forced to yield his throne for failing to make the contracted weight limit in a fight against Alejandro Hernandez.

He then moved up in weight but was knocked out by Wilfredo Vasquez Jr. in the fourth round during their WBO super bantamweight championship match on Feb. 27, 2010 in Bayamon, Puerto Rico.

In his comeback fight last October, Sonsona sent Mexican foe Carlos Jacobo to the canvass during the eighth round before winning via unanimous decision.