Sonsona avenges lone loss, edges Vasquez

Marvin Sonsona. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines —Filipino bet Marvin Sonsona got back at Wilfredo Vasquez Jr. via split decision in the last undercard bout of the Cotto-Martinez headliner Sunday (Manila time) at the Madison Square Garden in New York.

Sonsona, a former WBO super flyweight world champion, earned two of the judges’ nod, 96-92, 96-92 while the other scored it in favor of Vasquez, 92-96.

The 23-year-old Sonsona avenged his only defeat so far, a fourth-round knockout at the hands of Vasquez four years ago for the vacant WBO super bantamweight crown.

And it was a different story when both former world champions met as featherweights this time.

The bout appeared to be a short one after Sonsona (19-1-1, 15KOs) sent Vasquez (23-4-1, 19 KOs) down with a body shot in the opening round.

But Sonsona failed to gain advantage on the early knockdown as the two fought a dragging fight that didn’t live up to the expectations.