FORMER WBO superflyweight champion Marvin “The Marvelous” Sonsona arrived in Oxnard, California last Monday to train and try to regain his once lofty status in boxing.
Sonsona will be trained by Pablo Sarmiento for a month according to Filipino promoter Samson Gello-ani of SGG promotions.
Sonsona (15-1, 12 KOs), who is planning to move up to featherweight after winning over Dominican Republic’s Carlos Fulgencio last March in Lapu-Lapu City, is set to face former Olympian Orlando ‘The Phenomenon’ Cruz (18-2-1, 9 KOs) for a non-title fight in July in Las Vegas.
Sarmiento also trains WBC middleweight champion Sergio Martinez.
Sonsona’s planned July fight however, will depend on his performance during the month-long training, Gello-ani informed.
According to Gello-ani, after Sonsona beg for another chance to revive his career after his first loss, he decided to instill stringent measures in his ward’s training.
“It was necessary for me to send him in the US to prevent distractions and other problems while he is on training. I have to do something to rein him in,” added Gello-ani who also moved his training camp from General Santos to Balyangaw, Misamis Occidental.
The new gym is where Philippine lightweight champion Rey Labao,Weng Haya, Jessie Cris Rosales and WBO Asia Pacific super featherweight champion Jose Ocampo train.
CASIMERO’S JUNE 30 FIGHT HANGING
Meanwhile, IBF Interim lightflyweight champion Johnriel “Cuadro Alas” Casimero’s June 30 fight in Cebu is not yet etched in stone after all.
Gello-ani said that the budgetary requirement to stage the fight at the Hoops Dome Lapu-Lapu City is the main concern of the television network that will cover the bout. “There will be a lot of changes and developments later this week. We are still hoping that the fight will push through on June 30,” said Gello-ani.
The fight could be a possible title-defense or a tune-up fight for Casimero who became an instant celebrity when he won the IBF title in Argentina. /CORRESPONDENT DALE G. ROSAL