Uncovering the 'new' Pacquiao

MANILA, Philippines - “We’ve found the new Manny Pacquiao,” gushed promoter Sammy Gello-ani as teenaged “Marvelous” Marvin Sonsona sent Thai veteran Wandee Singwancha to dreamland with a vicious left uppercut at 1:49 of the second round to claim the vacant WBO Oriental flyweight crown before 2,000 believers at the Cebu Coliseum two weeks ago.

“Sonsona has Pacquiao’s power and the moves of (IBF flyweight titlist Nonito) Donaire,” said Gello-ani. “I never expected him to dispose of Wandee so easily. He may be skinny and lanky at 5-7 but he hits like a mule. He’s mature for his age. He’s ready for a world title shot.”

Gello-ani said yesterday he is close to finalizing negotiations for Sonsona to challenge WBO superflyweight champion Jose (Carita) Lopez of Puerto Rico on the Floyd Mayweather-Juan Manuel Marquez undercard at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on July 18. An offer has been made by Golden Boy Promotions, he disclosed.

Gello-ani said he expects the fight contract to be sent this week. Once the deal is confirmed, Sonsona will apply for a US visa. Gello-ani noted that Sonsona recently gave up his WBO Oriental title to pave the way for his recognition as Lopez’ challenger.

Lopez, 37, has a 39-7-2 record, with 32 KOs, and is a crafty veteran. No doubt, he’ll use his experience to thwart Sonsona who has never fought outside the country.

Sonsona, 18, hails from Pacquiao’s hometown General Santos City but the similarity doesn’t end there. A southpaw like Pacman, Sonsona has lightning hand-speed and packs dynamite power in both fists. Due to his frame, he could move up all the way to lightweight over time. Sonsona might just be able to duplicate Pacquiao’s rise as a world champion in six weight divisions.

The win over Wandee raised Sonsona’s record to 13-0, with 12 KOs. He turned pro in 2007 and is clearly one of the country’s hottest boxing prospects. Last October, Sonsona knocked out Joel Rafols in the second round to win the vacant WBO Asia-Pacific Youth flyweight crown and defended it via a fourth round stoppage of Liempetch Sor Veerapol of Thailand three months later.

But the masterful demolition of Wandee, a former WBC interim minimumweight and lightflyweight titleholder, was a strong statement that Sonsona is headed for big things. A smashing combination capped by a left uppercut left Wandee sprawled on the canvas where he lay motionless for several minutes.

Wandee, 29, was no slouch. In 2000, he lost a majority 12-round decision to Mexico’s Jose Antonio Aguirre for the WBC 105-pound diadem and three years later, engaged now undisputed superflyweight champion Vic Darchinyan twice in Australia.

New Zealand referee Bruce McTavish, who worked the fight in Cebu, was impressed by Sonsona’s crisp and accurate punching.

“I didn’t think anyone so frail-looking could hit so hard but he puts a lot of body weight behind his punches,” said McTavish. “He’s got speed and accuracy. His combinations are jarring. This boy is a heckuva fighter. When Sonsona threw that left uppercut, Wandee was out like a light. I didn’t bother to count. I called for the doctors right away because he was out cold.”

McTavish, a veteran of over 130 world title fights as a referee or judge, said Sonsona reminds him of a young Pacquiao. “He’s got the makings of a future world champion,” added McTavish.

Curiously, Sonsona didn’t like fighting at first. His father, a former pro, taught him the rudiments and bribed him with a soda just to get him to lace up the gloves in the gym when he was 12. Before long, Sonsona developed a liking for the sport and racked up over 200 amateur bouts.

Sonsona is trained by local hand Jun Agrabio but Gello-ani said he’s prepared to bring him to someone who can take him to the next level. He raised the possibility of Sonsona training at the Wild Card Gym, if Freddie Roach agrees.

Sonsona’s manager is Dr. Rajan Yraola, a Manila dentist who assigned the fighter’s promotional rights to Gello-ani.