CEBU, Philippines – For his ring craftsmanship and sheer punching power, he was christened with the ring name 'Marvelous." Unfortunately, he is no longer the kind of explosive and exciting fighter he used to be. Not only that, it appears that he is now disinterested in the sport that could have served as his key to get out of poverty.
And insofar as his US-based promoter and adviser Sampson Lewkowicz is concerned, it's the end of the road for Marvin Sonsona's fistic career.
Lewkowicz, the revered 'Picasso' of boxing who, unknown to many, is the man responsible for giving Pinoy ring superstar Manny Pacquiao his first major break in the United States, flew all the way from the US to Cebu to unload all his disappointments on Sonsona during a lengthy and wide-ranging talk with a select group of Cebuano sportscribes last Saturday afternoon at La Gondola restaurant in Waterfront-Cebu City Hotel and Casino.
Lewkowicz said he is already fed up by Sonsona's attitude and lack of discipline that he finally decided to press the 'game over' button of Sonsona's 'gaming' days.
"I believe that it is the end of his career. It's the end of an era for a great talent," said Lewkowicz.
The highly esteemed international promoter/matchmaker felt bad that Sonsona wasted several opportunities despite all the golden chances they had given him with hopes that he will change for the better, make up for all his shortcomings and relit the fire that once made him the world super flyweight champion.
But it turned out that things only get worse for the General Santos City fighter, who now gained not fortune but much weight, and appears to be longer interested in the sport that was once his springboard to world fame.
Lewkowicz said Sonsona was supposed to leave from his hometown GenSan to the US last October 13, purportedly to start a training camp in Las Vegas for a December 18 non-title fight that would haved earned him $50,000 (P2.3 million). Instead, Sonsona decided to stay home and hang out with his friends, something that drew their ire and that of his influential adviser Al Haymon.
There is something wrong with him and the damage has been done," said Lewkowicz. "There are people that he called friends, but they're the ones who destroyed his career.”
Last July 10, Sonsona was supposed to start training for a world title bout against Gary Russell slated for September 22, but Sonsona requested for the trip to be postponed so he could celebrate his birthday on July 25 . He promised to fly a few days after, but it did not happen, forcing Lewkowicz to scrap the match where Sonsona was guaranteed a purse of $100,000 (P4.6 million).
Just to clear his mind from any distractions, Lewkowicz even paid $13,000 (nearly half million pesos) for the kidney operation of Sonsona's mother at the National Kidney Institute without deducting the money from his purse during his comeback fight against Jonathan Arrellano where he punched his way to a hard-fought decision victory last June.
"He is a disgrace especially to Filipino boxers who worked their way hard just to be on top and get where they are now," said Lewkowicz. " I treat him as my own son. I took care of him, but he betrayed me this way. I don't trust him anymore," he added, brushing off a hand-written letter of apology sent to him by Sonsona who addressed him "Papa Sampson."
Though he no longer has trust on his estranged ward, Lewkowicz is not completely shutting down the door on Sonsona.
"If he wants to comeback, then he will do it in the Philippines. He will fight here at least twice against a very tough opponent. I wan't to make sure that he's in shape to get back in the US," said Lewkowicz. "And I will pay him no more than 50,000 pesos, not dollars, regardless of his opponent. If he don''t take this kind of punishment, then I believe it's the end of his career."
Lewkowicz said for the first time he joined in a WBC Convention recently in China just to request one of boxing's governing bodies to take Sonsona's name out of the world ratings.
"He don't deserved to be in the world rankings. And knowing my integrity, the WBC took his name off the ratings. That's the price he has to pay," said Lewkowicz.
For the time being, Lewkowicz said they are freezing their promotional contract with Sonsona in the US and warned to sue anyone who will interfere and be involved in his career anywhere in the world. (FREEMAN)