Has success gone into the head of Marvin Sonsona?

Has success gone into the head of Marvin Sonsona?
Well, his promoter, Sammi Gello-ani, is keeping his fingers crossed.
"I hope not. That's why we're giving him a chance. We don't want to give up on him," he said.
Sonsona made noise when he won took the WBO super-flyweight crown from Puerto Rico's Jose Lopez in Ontario, Canada last September and at 19 became one of the youngest Filipino world champion ever.
But his reign at the top did not last long. He was stripped of the title just two months after after failing to make weight for his defense against Mexico's Alejandro Hernandez. The bout pushed through but ended in a draw.
Sonsona found reasons for his failure to make weight, even saying that he has grown so fast that it would almost impossible for him to make 115 lb. He said it was time for him to move up in weight, and that's what he did.
On Feb. 27, the 5-foot-7 Filipino nicknamed "Marvelous," and who has the skills to make it to the world stage, will take on another Puerto Rican, the 17-0 Wilfredo Vasquez Jr., at the Coliseo Ruben Rodriguez in Puerto Rico.
It will be for the vacant WBO super-bantamweight (122 lb) title and Sonsona, also undefeated in 14 fights, has been training for nearly three weeks now in the United States under Nonito Donaire Jr.
Before he left for the US last Jan. 6, Sonsona gave his handlers some terrible headache because twice he postponed his flight from his hometown in General Santos City to Manila in time for the flight to the US.
Gello-Ani said on one occasion, he went to Sonsona's home in General Santos City at 8 a.m. just in time for a 10 o'clock flight to Manila, only to find the tall and shifty fighter in bed.
"He asked me if we could leave the next day instead because he wanted to sleep," said the promoter of the former world champion who just loves to party and stay out late at night.
Still, Gello-Ani isn't giving up on him.
"Bata pa kasi (He's still young)," he said. "He just turned 19 last July so let's give him a chance. There were days when he told me he wanted to quit boxing because he's been boxing all his life."
Sonsona comes from a very poor family, and upon his return from Ontario last September, as the world champion, he said all he wanted was to give his parents and his siblings a taste of the good life.
"Now he's gotten a taste of the good life and he wants to quit," said Gello-Ani, adding that Sonsona signed a contract for $25,000 for the Lopez fight and $50,000 for the Alejandro fight where he lost the crown.
"Nakatikim na ng sarap eh. Ayaw na daw niya. But we're not supposed to give up on him. We're giving him two years to mature. But I told him that in those two years he needs to fight," said his promoter.
"I told him that it may be too late for him if he quits now and decides to make a comeback when he runs out of money. May pera pa kasi kaya nakaka-ag-isip umayaw. Paano kung ubos ba ang pera? Hahanap ulit 'yan."
Gello-Ani said he promised Sonsona a good fight contract for the Velasquez, and he's happy to hear news that he's been training hard in the US.
"That's a very good sign. I would rather see him stay there because for him, there are less distractions there than when he's here at home. I just hope he puts everything into his mind," said Gello-Ani.
Or maybe,yes, it's time to give up.

Panabo fighter scores impressive victory

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY - A three-time Palarong Pambansa gold medalist took the thunder while the sons of a former Olympian made their presence felt in the opening day of the 2010 Smart-Abap National Amateur Boxing Championship Monday night at the Puerto Princesa coliseum here.
Mark Anthony Barriga of Panabo City scored an impressive victory over Arjay Aguilar of Bicol, 23-1, to advance to the quarterfinals of the junior boys' pinweight category of this prestigious five-day tourney, which stakes a total of 14 slots in the national youth squad.
The 16-year old Barriga, a first-year commerce student from Panabo College who dominated the past three editions of Palarong Pambansa, bombarded Aguilar with a flurry of head and body punches right from the opening bell to notch the lopsided win that impressed national coaches Pat Gaspi, Romeo Brin, Roel Velasco and Boy Catolico.
The four coaches were on the sidelines to scout potential talents that will compete in the 2010 Singapore Youth Olympics in August.
"Gusto ko talaga siyang ma-knock out para mapasama ako sa RP (youth) team," said Barriga, the second of the three children of a machine operator and a housekeeper.
"Pero mahaba pa 'yan. Madami pang pwedeng mangyari. Magagaling din ang mga kalaban ko dito."
Also impressive were the sons of 1992 Barcelona Olympian Roberto Jalnaiz who are representing Misamis Oriental under Gov. Oscar Moreno.
Rafael Jalnaiz, 10, pulled an 11-5 decision over Kent Jasper Fuentes of Palawan in the kids' vacuum weight category while his elder brother, 12-year old Robert Miguel, humbled Jeffrey Stella of Mandue City, 13-3, in the kids' ant weight category.
"Araw-araw ensayo nyang mga batang iyan. Tinututukan ko talaga sila dahil alam kong madaming malalakas (na kalaban) dito," said Jalnaiz, who was remembered as the lone Filipino gold medalist in the 1990 Beijing Asian Games.
Wrapping up the elimination round in the kids' ant weight class are Michael Joerge Codilla, who won over Joseph Orevello, 10-9, Justine Carl Fajardo of Puerto Princesa A, who stopped Jake Tabares of Caloocan in the second round, and Romer Dagoy of Zamboanga, who edged Dave Luna of Puerto Princesa C, 13-11.
In the kids' vacuum weight, Ryan Jaime Flores of Bago City emerged victorious over Jason Pia of Davao, 10-7, Wencyl Brian Abes of Baguio City dominated Franklin Pagdatu of Puerto Princesa C, 16-11, Rhezon Tarona of Mandaue City clobbered John Zedrick Borce of Puerto Princesa A, 12-7, Mario Bautista of Negros Occidental conquered Jude Chia of Puerto Princesa B, 21-7, and Robert Paradero of Bukidnon stopped Emmanuel Tapia Jr. in the second round.
In the school boys' light mosquito weight class, Michael Bahena was declared the winner after Ryan Torres of La Union gave him a head butt while Matthew Jagmis of Puerto Princesa C hacked an 18-12 victory over Jayson Dagelio of Tagbilaran.
Eljean Hermedalla of Bacolod A and Philip Luis Cuerdo of Mandaluyong also won, clobbering Sonny Sagbaulan of Puerto Princesa B (9-1) and McJoe Lozada of Palawan (23-11), respectively.
Also advancing to the quarterfinals of the junior boys' pinweight class that starts today were Espiridion Pubadora of Iloilo, Rodney Bernardo of Palawan, Jude Cheng of Cordillera, Alfer Sumugat of Palawan and Frederick Magbanua of Puerto Princesa B.
In the flyweight class, Cris Paulino of Manila, Raffey Cavan of Davao del Norte, Mesar Alpuerto of Palawan A were declared winners as well as Arnel Tapang of Mandaluyong, Marcial Angelo of Taguig, Ruiz Lorenzo Tesorio of Puerto Princesa A and Martin Cordova of Bago City.
In the junior boys' bantamweight division, Kevin James of Tayabas, Leonil Bordeos of Northern Samar and Gabriel Altajeros of National Capital Region also claimed their respective quarterfinal tickets.