Sonsona To Get Shot at WBO Flyweight Champ Lopez
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
“Marvelous” Marvin Sonsona who scored a stunning second round knockout victory over former two division world champion Wandee Singwancha of Thailand last May 28 in Cebu has earned a crack at the WBO world title held by Puerto Rico’s Jose Carita Lopez.
Promoter Sammy Gello-ani who handles Sonsona’s career and internationally known matchmaker Samson Lewkowicz both informed BoxingScene.com, insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports that the only issues to be resolved would be the date and the venue.
Gello-ani said the handlers of Lopez want the fight to be held in Puerto Rico but both he and Lewkowicz were look at staging the title fight under the promotional arm of Seminole Warriors at the Hard Rock in Miami , Florida . Gello-ani said they were targeting the last week of August or the first week of September.
Lopez (39-7-2, 32 KO’s) who is 37 won the vacant title with a twelve round unanimous decision over 40 year old Thai Pramuansak Posuwan (45-2-1, 24 KO’s) in Bayamon , Puerto Rico last March 28. It was Lopez’ sixth try for the world title and he finally achieved his goal against Posuwan.
Efforts to get Lopez to defend his title against Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire fell through even as Golden Boy Promotions vice president and international matchmaker Eric Gomez told us he was trying to get AJ “Bazooka” Banal the title fight against Lopez . However, that too didn’t work out as it was turned down by the ALA Gym since Banal had trouble making the super flyweight limit and was moving up to fight as a bantam weight.
Sonsona, the 18 year old southpaw from General Santos City which is also the hometown of Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao, won the WBO Oriental flyweight title with his 2nd round KO of Wandee Singwancha which improved his unbeaten record to 13-0 with 12 knockouts.
Sonsona who won the WBO Asia Pacific Youth title with a 2nd round TKO over undefeated Joel Rafols retained that title with a 4th round TKO over Liempetch Sor Veerapol on January 31, 2009.
He has improved with every fight and his domination of Wandee gave his handlers the confidence to go after the world title of “Carita” Lopez who is a strong puncher.
