Sonsona backs out of Baguio training

BAGUIO CITY – World Boxing Organization superflyweight champion Marvin “Marvelous” Sonsona backed out of his scheduled six-week training in this mountain resort city because his training schedule was delayed and interrupted by the onslaught of Typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng over the past three weeks.

Apparently, Sonsona’s camp will be going back to Cebu to complete his training before leaving early for the United States in order to be able to adjust with the weather condition before his November 21, 2009 title defense in Canada.

Former city councilor Rufino Panagan, a local boxing promoter and manager, said the decision of the world champion’s trainers to abandon their plans to train in the city is a big blow to the promotion of Baguio as a good place to hold a boxer’s high altitude training.

However, he said local boxing aficionados will still support the upcoming Filipino boxing sensation when he defends his superflyweight crown against a Mexican slugger, Alejandro Hernandez, in their 12-round title bout.

In a text message sent to Panagan, Sammy Gelioani, Sonsona’s manager, informed him that after the conduct of a meeting with the boxer’s trainers, they have decided to continue his training in Cebu and will leave for the US early in order to adjust with the cool weather in the place where the bout will be held next month.

Supposedly, Sonsona was to start training in the city in the first week of October but the onslaught of Typhoon Ondoy in Metro Manila delayed their schedule to come up to the Summer Capital of the Philippines.

When they were about to come up to the city last October 6, 2009, their plans were again foiled by the second and third landfalls of Typhoon Pepeng which resulted in continuous heavy rains and strong winds that will not allow them to effectively and efficiently hold their daily road workout.

If he succeeds in his November 21 title defense, the 19-year old pride of General Santos City is being lined up for an acid test in his boxing career for a mandatory defense against a tough challenger in February or March in Cebu to give his fans a chance to seem him fight in a world title bout.

After International Boxing Federation and International Boxing Organization superflyweight champion Nonito Daire Jr. held his training in the city early this year, pound for pound king Manny Pacquiao decided to hold his high altitude training in the Summer Capital of the Philippines in preparation for his upcoming welterweight title bout with Puerto Rican Miguel Coto on Nov. 15 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Panagan said other Filipino world-rated boxers and world champions have signified their intention to hold their high altitude training in the city in the coming months in preparation for their tough fights lined up by their promoters. -- Dexter A. See