Sonsona battles Puerto Rican in comeback to world stage

MANILA, Philippines - Marvin Sonsona, who’s on the road to being marvelous once more, faces Wilfredo Vasquez Jr. of Puerto Rico today under the bright lights of the Madison Square Garden in New York.

It will be the first time Sonsona, the former WBO super-flyweight champion, will fight in the United States, in the same stage for Miguel Cotto and Sergio Martinez.

Sonsona won the world super-flyweight crown in September 2009 but lost it in the scales just less than three months later when he failed to make weight.

Trouble continued when he faced Vasquez in Puerto Rico. The Filipino boxer, who was only 20 years old then, was knocked out in the fourth round.

People thought Sonsona, from General Santos City, was done at a very young age. His handler, Sammy Gello-ani, almost gave up on him.

But Sonsona said he wanted to continue fighting, and looked serious, winning his last four fights, three of them by stoppage.

He faces another test against Vasquez today.

“We trained very hard for this fight. The first fight with Vasquez, I trained with Nonito Donaire Sr., who helped me a lot. But our style will be different for this fight,” he told Top Rank’s Chrystina Poncher.

“I am now back with my previous trainer Jun Agrabio and we made a lot of adjustments for me to win this fight. I assure you I will give my best,” Sonsona added.

The fight is set for 10 rounds with the vacant NABF featherweight title at stake.

“I guarantee that people watching will enjoy,” said Sonsona.