By Jake Donovan (photo by insidesports.ph)

Depending upon whom you asked, Marvin Sonsona was either too fresh and talented for the elder Jose “Carita” Lopez to handle, or he was too young and inexperienced to handle the pressure of a wily veteran.

Twelve rounds later, truth would be found in both statements, though it would also serve as a period in which Sonsona would grow in front of our very eyes.

Banging early and boxing late, the southpaw Filipino found just the right formula to outlast the Puerto Rican veteran. A fourth-round knockdown and two points docked from Lopez’ card for low blows proved to be more than enough for the 19-year old Sonsona to remain unbeaten and pick up his first major title in scoring a unanimous decision Friday night at the Casino Rama in Ontario, Canada.

Scores were 114-111, 115-110 and 116-109.

As expected, both punchers tried to impose their will on one another right from the opening bell. Lopez claimed the role of aggressor, though Sonsona exuded patience far beyond his 19 years of age, sharp shooting from the outside. Lopez remained unnerved, as he continued to move forward in every effort to make it an inside fight.

Sonsona was a little brave for his own good early in the second. He decided to try to take the fight to the Puerto Rican titlist, only for Lopez to effectively counter and force Sonsona to step back and rethink his game plan.

It worked out to his advantage, finding his range and eventually cracking the iron chin of Lopez towards the end of the round. A looping right hook rocked Lopez, with the ensuing volley forcing a rate trip to the canvas, though the instance apparently went unnoticed by the referee, who waved it off as a slip.

Knockdown or not, Lopez was still loopy at rounds end. The minute rest hardly helped him regain his legs. Sonsona sensed vulnerable prey and went into full attack mode. Boxing was strictly a rumor, as the Filipino loaded up on every punch. Overhand lefts had Lopez in massive trouble, repeatedly clinching in his greatest efforts to remain on his feet.

An uppercut late in the round momentarily kept the heat off of him, with Sonsona coasting down the stretch as he sensed a knockout wasn’t immediately on tap. He ran the risk of allowing Lopez back into the fight, but disproved that theory in violent fashion in the fourth.

Left hands continued to reign down on Lopez, who was rocked midway through the round after getting nailed with a left uppercut, overhand left combo. A left hook later in the round put the Puerto Rican on his back for the bout's lone official knockdown. Lopez spent the rest of the round trying desperately to keep Sonsona at bay, which proved futile save for a brief rally in the final ten seconds.

Digging a deep hole for himself, Lopez tried in vain to turn things around in the fifth. Sonsona began the round fighting in reverse, measuring up Lopez, who continued to charge forward in hopes of imposing his will on the challenger nearly 20 years his junior. Toe-to-toe action worked to Lopez’ advantage, as he was able to land to the body, momentarily slowing down Sonsona’s otherwise relentless attack.

The end of the fifth round marked the deepest Sonsona has ever been extended in a career just two years and 14 fights young. Inexperience was hardly a factor in the sixth, however, as Sonsona looked refreshed after all but giving away the fifth.

A low blow momentarily stopped him in his tracks, as an errant Lopez shot landed on Sonsona’s thigh. The infraction drew a warning from the referee, as did a body shot moments later that was border line. Sonsona shook off both shots and stuck to his script, landing straight lefts upstairs and offering lateral movement to avoid an attempted late Lopez surge.

Though Sonsona fought a nearly flawless fight in the first half, the final six rounds proved to be a different tale.

Common logic going in was that the longer the fight lasted, the better chance Lopez had of retaining his title. Lopez put that theory to the test in the seventh, closing the gap considerably as Sonsona suddenly lacked the fire power to keep the tide in his favor. Instead, he wisely switched up and controlled the action from the outside in a round that would mathematically seal the deal.

Lopez wasn’t about to concede defeat, as he began to target Sonsona’s body in the eighth and ninth. A midsection feast turned into a gorge, however; Lopez would once again stray too low for the referee’s liking, ultimately losing two points for low blows, adding insult to injury.

Good two way action surfaced in the tenth, though anything in the way of a power game favored Lopez. It was enough to steal some late rounds, but never enough to close the show, as Sonsona proved wise beyond his youth and perceived inexperience.

Desperate for a dramatic rally, Lopez applied the pressure in the 12th and final round, but Sonsona was able to time him coming in, landing shots before the soon to be ex-champion had a chance to get off his punches. It was a round in which Sonsona could’ve coasted; he instead chose to close the show.

It proved to be window dressing once the scores were announced, winning 6, 7 and 8 rounds on the three scorecards. Factor in the early knockdown and two points for low blows deducted from Lopez’ tally, and a close fight results in an even wider margin of victory for the winner and new champion Sonsona, who improves to 14-0 (12KO).

Lopez falls to 39-8-2 (32KO), losing for the first time in eight years. A 16-fight unbeaten streak comes to an end, as does a short lived reign as a super-flyweight titlist.

UNDERCARD

Former super bantamweight titlist Steve “The Canadian Kid” Molitor extends his winning streak to a robust two fights, having an easy go of things in his fifth round stoppage of his featherweight bout with journeyman Dario Azuaga in the evening’s co-feature.

The official time was 1:50 of round five.

Molitor dominated the bout from the opening bell, scoring a knockdown in the fourth and two more in the fifth before Azuaga’s corner threw in the towel. Enjoying size, reach and overall talent advantages, the southpaw Molitor controlled everything with his jab, though it was a brutal body attack which proved to be Azuaga’s doing.

Body shots led to two knockdowns in the fifth round. Azuaga was forced to a knee on both occasions, the second prompting his corner to literally throw in the towel.

The win advances Molitor’s career mark to 30-1 (11KO); Aguaza falls to 76-16-2 (64KO).

Molitor’s performance was a vast improvement over his comeback fight earlier this year, in which he struggled to a split decision over journeyman Heriberto Ruiz.

Nevertheless, the scoreboard reads two straight wins since falling way short in a failed unified bid against Celestino Caballero last year. The loss ended his two year reign as a super bantamweight titlist, having made five successful defenses.

The show was presented by Orion Sports Management in association with Puerto Rico Best Boxing and aired live on TSN in Canada.

Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of Boxingscene.com and an award-winning member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Contact Jake at JakeNDaBox@gmail.com .