World title shot at stake in Sonsona, Pumicpic tiffs

MANILA, Philippines - A possible shot at a world title awaits world contenders Eden Sonsona and Richard Pumicpic when they see action in a big boxing card Saturday in Parañaque.

Sonsona battles Daniel Ferreras in a 10-round super-bantamweight match, while Pumicpic takes on Richard Betos in a similar 10-rounder of a featured promotion presented by sportsman-businessman Anson Tiu Co in cooperation with In This Corner and in memory of the late boxing analyst Ramon “Moy” Lainez.

“If one of them will win, then maybe they can vie for a world title,” said Co in the weekly Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum at Shakey’s Malate.

Sonsona is currently on a comeback trail after losing in a World Boxing Organization super-bantamweight eliminator against Jonathan Oquendo.

  The 24-year-old cousin of former world champion Marvin Sonsona has won his last six fights to hike his personal record to 32-6, with 10 KOs.

Pumicpic, meanwhile, sports a 12-5 record with 4 KOs.

The 23-year-old native of Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte was a last-minute substitute for two-time world title challenger Bernabe Concepcion, who has to back out of the fight after suffering a shoulder injury while in training.

Co said in the session presented by Shakey’s and the Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corporation that Concepcion will undergo two weeks of rehabilitation to help heal the injured shoulder.

“Sayang nga sana si Abe (Concepcion) kasi maganda na ang pinapakita niya sa ensayo,” said Co, owner of the Shape Up boxing gym in Baguio City.  

The promotion will also feature the Philippine minimumweight title bout between undefeated women’s contenders Jessabelle Pagaduan and Carleans Rivas.