Sonsona ‘hungry like a tiger’ in 2nd title shot

Source: GMANews.TV

After a short-lived stint as a weight-troubled world champion, Marvin Sonsona will be doubly motivated and ravenous when he climbs the ring to dispute the vacant WBO junior featherweight title with Wilfredo "WV2" Vazquez, Jr. on Saturday at the latter’s turf in Puerto Rico.

Sonsona, 19, will be seeing action for the first time since losing the WBA super-flyweight belt for weighing in 2.6 pounds over the limit for his defense against Mexican Alejandro Hernandez last November in Canada. The General Santos pride went on to battle Hernandez to a draw, consoling himself by remaining undefeated (14-0-1, 12 KOs).

"I want to make up for what happened in Canada and win another world title. I’m hungry and focused on this fight; I’m hungry like a tiger!" said Sonsona, who holds the record as the second youngest Filipino to win a world title and the one with the shortest ever reign (77 days).

For his next foray, Sonsona is moving two divisions up, pitting skills with Vazquez. Jr, who himself is gunning for history as the first-ever second-generation Puerto Rican to win a world title like his father (former three-division titlist Wilfredo Sr.).

"My promoter (Sampson Lewkowicz) wanted me to take this fight because I have a big chance to win the title. It’s a good opportunity for me to get a championship belt back. I’ve trained hard for this fight and we’ve worked on his (Vazquez’s) weaknesses. He makes a lot of mistakes," he said.

It will also be the first time for Sonsona to fight in a pay-per-view card. Billed "Double Assault," the PPV split site program will feature not only the Sonsona-Vazquez duel in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, but also the title defense of Filipino WBC light-flyweight king Rodel Mayol against ex-champ Omar Nino over in Guadalajara.

WBO No. 3 rated Sonsona is unfazed that he’s facing off with No. 2 rated Vazquez Jr. (17-0-1, 14 KOs) in hostile territory.

"Fighting in his (Vasquez’s) hometown doesn’t bother me. The officials will be fair and I have a lot of Puerto Rican fans, too. I’m not sure if it’ll end in a knockout, but it’s going to be a very good fight," he declared.

Sonsona won raves when he captured the WBO 115-division strap via a 12-round unanimous decision win over veteran Jose Lopez in Ontario, Canada last September 2009.

Losing the crown at the scales right on his first defense two months later brought back memories of a young Manny Pacquiao, who had a similar experience back in 1999 but eventually rebounded to become a seven-division champion.

"Manny is Manny. It’s hard following in his footsteps but all I can do is to be my best and, hopefully, bring another world title home," Sonsona said of his idol.

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