MANILA, Philippines - He became a world champion at 19 but threw everything away.
Marvin Sonsona, the once marvelous kid from General Santos City, is now 21. He wants the world title, and everything that comes with it, back.
“He was only 19 when he became world champion,” said boxing manager Sammy Gello-ani of the former WBO super-flyweight champion.
“He was immature. He didn’t know how to handle things. He played around and enjoyed his life with all his money,” added Gello-ani yesterday.
Sonsona quit boxing and did nothing for two years, until he came up to his soft-spoken manager last year, and said he wanted another chance.
“I punished him by not giving him a fight for two years. Now he wants to be a world champion again. He said he wants everything back,” said Gello-ani.
Sonsona, during yesterday’s packed press conference at Greenbelt, sounded serious.
“Nagbago na ako. Pag wala ka palang ginagawa wala ka talagang mapapala (I’ve changed. I realized doing nothing will give you nothing),” said the boxer who loves to dye his hair.
On Saturday, at the Hoops in Lapu-Lapu City, Sonsona will get another chance to show how serious he really is when he takes on Carlos Fulgencio of the Dominican Republic.
“Gusto ko maging world champion ulit. Ayoko na maging istambay (I don’t want to bum around anymore),” Sonsona said.
To his right during the presscon was Froilan Saludar, a future champion who also fights Saturday, against a Mexican named Alejandro Morales.
Morales is no Erik Morales, but he’s nicknamed “Terrible” just the same. He stands at 13-1-1 with seven knockouts, while Saludar is undefeated in 14 fights (11 KOs).
It will be a good night of boxing, put up by AKTV, SGG Promotions and Sampson Boxing, and it includes an exciting battle between Dan Nazareno and Adones Cabalquinto in the junior weltweight class.
There’s no easy fight when you’re on the comeback trail, and Sonsona, coming off a big win over Mexico’s Carlos Jacobo last October, said he’s ready.
“The only problem is that I don’t know anything about my opponent until last week when we caught a video of his fight on Youtube,” he said in Filipino.
“Now I have an idea how he fights. He’s amateurish in style and a good counterpuncher. He likes coming in and out. I think I can handle him well,” added Sonsona.
Jacobo is no impostor and at 5’9” is two inches taller than Sonsona. He carries at 19-5-1 record against the rejuvenated Filipino who’s at 15-1-1 with a dozen knockouts.
“If Marvin wins on Saturday we get closer to a world title shot. And if he becomes a world champion again, I will be the happiest man on earth,” said Gello-ani.
Marvin has the chance to be marvelous once more.