By Ronnie Nathanielsz
“Marvelous” Marvin Sonsona, every bit like Filipino hero Manny Pacquiao in his youth, scored a sensational second round knockout over former world light flyweight interim champion Wandee Singwancha of Thailand in a fight fan’s dream card at the Cebu Coliseum on Thursday.
In the fight covered by Viva Sports/Viva Prime for its top-rated weekly boxing show “The Main Event” and beamed live to Thailand, the 18 year old Sonsona who resembled a skinny Pacquiao when he was earning a name on the old “Blow by Blow” boxing show which was a forerunner of “The Main Event,” proved he had the kind of power that Pacquiao demonstrated in his early years.
The solidly built Wandee was rocked by Sonsona early in round one with solid, rapid-fire combinations that had the fans roaring their approval as the search for a young fighter who could hopefully provide the country another future world champion, continues.
Showing excellent defense, hand-speed and good movement, Sonsona didn’t rush things but waited for the right moment in round two before he unleashed an explosive combination, leading with a stiff right straight and then nailing the former world champion with a superbly timed and perfectly-executed left uppercut that snapped Wandee’s head back and sent him crashing to the canvas.
Wandee remained motionless for several minutes as Games and Amusements Board doctors attended to the stricken fighter and his Thai handlers led by the fine boxing promoter Kokiet of the Kokiet Group of companies appeared worried. Wandee eventually got up and was led to his dressing room to the applause of relieved fight fans.
With the smashing victory Sonsona improved his unbeaten record to 13-0 with 12 knockouts in by far the best performance of his young career and more than anything proved he had a future, if handled properly.
Sonsona has been featured on “The Main Event” in most of his fights but this was the first time promoter Sammy Gello-ani who has kept faith with the young boxer’s potential took him a step up to battle a tried and tested former world champion in what may well be regarded as a career-defining fight. Sonsona proved more than ready for the challenge displaying remarkable maturity in the ringh. As a result of his shattering loss Wandee dropped to 57-11-1 with 12 knockouts.
Gello-ani’s next target is WBO champion Omar Narvaez of Puerto Rico who some years ago defended his title successfully against Filipino challenger Rexon Flores. Gello-ani believes that Sonsona’s remarkable power and skills are good enough to overcome the experience of Narvaez and is hoping that WBO president Francisco “Paco” Valcarcel would respond positively to the title quest of the young Filipino.
