By Ronnie Nathanielsz
WBO super flyweight champion “Marvelous” Marvin Sonsona and WBO Oriental super bantamweight champion Ciso “Kid Terrible” Morales are looking sharp in sparring in Mandaue City, according to trainer Nonito Donaire Sr.
The experienced trainer who steered the career of his son Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire to the IBF/IBO flyweight titles when he scored a sensational “Knockout of the Year” against cocky Australian Vic Darchinyan on July 7, 2007 said both young Filipinos were on track for their scheduled fights at the Casino Rama in Ontario, Canada on November 21.
It’s the same venue where Sonsona, the 18 year old southpaw from General Santos City won the title with an impressive twelve round decision over tough veteran Jose “Carita” Lopez of Puerto Rico last September 4.
Donaire Sr who is working alongside longtime Sonsona trainer Jun Agbrabio said the hard-hitting southpaw is sparring with Richard Bitos who is reportedly quick both with his hands and in his movement. The trainer said he doesn’t want Sonsona to get into any “hard sparring and risk possible injury” although he conceded that the champion needs more sparring before they leave for Vancouver, Canada on November 12.
Donaire Sr said Sonsona “is doing fine and I’m quite happy” with his performance so far.
While he hasn’t seen any tapes of Sonsona’s opponent, 23 year old Mexican Alejandro “Payasito” Hernandez who has a record of 22-7-1 with 11 knockouts, Donaire Sr said he had seen Hernandez fight Colombia's Carlos Tamara when he lost a twelve round unanimous decision in WBC/WBO Latino flyweight title fight in Florida on December 7, 2007. Donaire remembers that “he moves around but doesn’t have power.”
The trainer indicated he was impressed with Morales whom he described as “really strong.” The 21 year old Morales, undefeated with a record of 13-0 with 8 knockouts will battle Mexico’s Miguel Angel Gonzalez Piedras who boasts of a record of 10-1 with 4 knockouts.
Morales won the WBO Oriental title with a controversial ten round unanimous decision over Marangin “Dinamita” Marbun on February 9, 2008 in Tubod, Lanao del Norte.
Marbun is the same Indonesian fighter who gave Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista a hard time before suffering a 7th round knockout at the Waterfront Hotel in Cebu City last Friday.
Gonzalez has won his last five fights by unanimous decision after his loss to undefeated Ramon Maas on May 19, 2007.
Gonzalez will be coming off a ten round unanimous decision over Roberto Cuenca last June 20 while Morales in his last fight on January 31 scored a 5th round TKO over Thailand’s Pichitchai Twins Gym.
