Former WBO Super Flyweight Champion “Marvelous” Marvin Sonsona is in Oxnard, California, preparing for his fight against Orlando Cruz with budding superstar trainer Pablo Sarmiento of Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez fame.
Sonsona (16-1-1, 13 KOs) will face Orlando “El Fenómeno” Cruz (18-2-1, 9 KOs) in the 10-round main event of Sampson Boxing and Greg Cohen Boxing’s “The Moment of Truth”, at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, in Las Vegas, and televised live on ESPN Friday Night Fights.
In the televised co-feature that night, Russian heavyweight power puncher Magomed “Mago” Abdusalamov (14-0, 14 KOs) will defend his WBC United States (USNBC) Silver Heavyweight Championship in a 10-round battle against fellow up-and-coming heavyweight Maurice “Freight Train” Byarm (13-1-1, 9 KOs).
“Working with Pablo, I give Marvin an excellent chance in his quest to once again be world champion,” said his promoter, Sampson Lewkowicz of Sampson Boxing. “He was the youngest Filipino world champion in history and now that he has matured, with his talent, I have no doubt that he will regain the crown at 126 pounds.”
Lewkowicz says Sonsona has reason to want to look good: his countrymen back home will be watching. “I am very happy with my partner Sammy Gello-Ani in the Philippines who has secured TV-5 so that all Filipinos will have the opportunity to watch Marvin’s performance.”
21-year-old Sonsona is a native of General Santos City, Cotabato del Sur, Philippines. His only career loss was to Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. for the vacant WBO super bantamweight Championship in February 2010. In Cruz, he will be facing a fellow southpaw, who represented his homeland of Puerto Rico at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia.
Headlining the undercard, popular heavyweight and current interim PABA Heavyweight Champion “Bronco” Billy Wright (37-4, 28 KOs) will continue his successful comeback in a six-round bout.
Also scheduled to fight six-round bouts are Las Vegas, via Puerto Rico, super middleweight Carlos De Leon Jr (21-3-2, 14 KOs); Las Vegas via Accra, Ghana, middleweight KO artist Bastie Samir (10-0-1, 10 KOs); and undefeated Las Vegas featherweight Rocco Santomauro (8-0).
Scheduled for a four-rounder is Jackson, Michigan, cruiserweight William “Lil’ Tyson” Williams (5-2-1, 4 KOs).
Orlando Cruz appears courtesy of Tuto Zavala’s All Star Boxing. Marvin Sonsona is co-promoted by Sammy Gello-ani of SGG Sports Promotions of the Philippines.
