Sonsona, who won the WBO super flyweight title at 19 only to lose it and suffer a career meltdown two years ago, has been given a slot in the under card of Johnriel Casimero’s International Boxing Federation’s interim light flyweight title fight against Mexican Sammy Gutierrez on May 13 at the Waterfront Hotel here.
His promoter, Sammy Gello-Ani, said Sonsona has to win convincingly in that fight against a still unnamed opponent. Then he’ll be sent to the United States for training alongside Argentine middleweight champ Sergio Martinez, and eventually hunt for another title shot.
Gello-Ani added Sonsona will have to fight in the featherweight division so as to avoid a potential collision with fellow Filipino Nonito Donaire Jr.
“I know it’s going to take him a longer time to reach the world title, but we don’t want to fight Donaire,” Gello-Ani was quoted by Cebu Daily News as saying.
Sonsona, a daring 5-foot-7 slugger, was to fight Carlos Fulgencio of Dominican Republic last night in a non-title bout at 126 pounds. It was to be his second fight after a 20-month hibernation, most of which he spent on partying and drinking binges.
Meanwhile, fight fans here are excited to watch Casimero live in action.
The Casimero-Gutierrez bout will be shown live in the Philippines, Mexico and South America as part two of AKTV’s boxing extravaganza dubbed as Pinoy Knockout.