By Ronnie Nathanielsz
WBO super flyweight champion “Marvelous” Marvin Sonsona (14-0, 12 KO’s) couldn’t make a planned trip to train in Baguio City and has been working out at the Elorde Gym in Gilmore. One of his trainers, Nonito Donaire Sr who was stranded in Baguio City returned to Manila when there was a break in the weather and flew to Cebu City Monday morning.
Donaire Sr said he plans to have Sonsona train in Cebu should Baguio be a problem because “there are too many distractions with training in Manila.”
Filipino promoter Sammy Gello-ani supported Donaire’s plan to have Sonsona train in Cebu because “it is difficult to train in Baguio right now and I agree that there are far too many distractions for the boy (he is 18 years old) in Manila.
Gello-ani said Sonsona’s inability to travel to Baguio and hookup with Donaire Sr had set back his training in preparation for his November 21 first title defense against Mexico’s Alejandro “Payasito” Hernandez(22-7, 11 KO’s) at the Casino Rama in Ontario, Canada on November 21.
The undefeated 19 year old sensation won the title with an impressive unanimous twelve round decision over rugged veteran Jose “Carita” Lopez of Puerto Rico at the same venue last September 4 when he dropped the champion with a stunning left hook and stood toe-to-toe with the hard-hitting Puerto Rican until the final bell.