MARVIN SONSONA: The Teenager Who Lives in Manny Pacquiao's Shadow. Article

Marvin Sonsona: Teenager lives in Manny Pacquiao's shadow Boxing Examiner Michael Marley There are no mysterious, untraceable emails written in invisible ink. Nothing like that, just a Filipino boxing source whose initials are not Hermie Rivera. This fight guy issued both a proclamation and a distress call regarding Pinoy super bantamweight phenom, the 19 year old Marvelous Marvin Sonsona. Sonsona, if you don’t know is a power-hitting southpaw from General Santos City (sounds familiar, you Paclanders?). He’s undefeated at 14-0-1 and has notched 12 knockouts, many of the pulverizing variety. A lack of discipline sent him off track in his last bout as he managed only a draw in a WBO super flyweight title bout in Ontario against Alejando Hernandsez, a guy with a 22-7-1 record, a guy Sonsona is supposed to get rid of within the 12 round distance, the earlier the better. But Sonsona, like so many before him, tripped himself up on the scales and forfeited his crown by not making the 115 pound limit. Now Sonsona is getting ready to turn the page. He travels to Puerto Rico on Feb. 27 to get tested by up and down Wilfredo Vasquez Jr., son of the multiple time world champion. The proclamation is loud and it is bold. “This kid, at his age now, is 60 percent better than Manny Pacquiao was when he was a teenager. This kid can ultimately be 60 percent than Manny is even now, even as Manny has become an international superstar and a national treasure in his homeland,” he said. Sounds incredible, so far right? But then, like a 1-2 punch combination, comes the warning. “Sansona may never get anywhere near to Manny’s achievements even though he has more God given ability than Pacman,” the man said. My imagination ran wild. Does Marvy run with a fast crowd or dissipate away from the gym? Nothing like that, the boxing man said. It’s an attitudinal problem, a malaise which besets this potential superstar. “Marvin just has a case of the I don’t cares, he’s not a bad lad by any means,” the man said. “Things come so natural for him like when he knocked out this Thai guy. The opponent was out cold for five minutes and I feared he might be dead. But everything comes so easy for this fighter that he takes his talent for granted. “This could be Marvin’s downfall, really. If he adopted the amazing work ethic of Manny or something close to it, the sky is the limit for him. Manny plays around until it is time to go training camp but, when he does, he works like a junkyard dog. That is why Manny can get into such amazing shape in just eight weeks.” Look, I don’t know Sonsona though I will go to Puerto Rico to watch him battle Boricua Vazquez. There’s a proclamation on his huge potential and a public warning on how he might throw it all away. Our saucy source offers this glint of optimism. "Marvin has a sold, reliable trainer in Nonito Donaire Sr. If he listens to Donaire, if he applies himself, he can someday be as big as Pacman is and maybe bigger." You expect immaturity, you expect mistakes and missteps by hormonally crazed teenagers. But Sonsona is under the spotlight as a Pinoy puncher and a lefty from Gensan to boot. He needs to exhibit more professionalism, more pride in performance. His pugilistic punctuation now is the question mark but he can turn those into exclamation points. Over to you, Marveloso. WAR SONSONA!