By Manuel Perez: There’s a strong possibility that WBO super flyweight champion Marvin Sonsona (14-0, 12 KO’s) and international Boxing Federation light flyweight title holder Brian Viloria (26-2, 15 KO’s) could be fighting on the same card in Manila early next year, according to Gman News. It sounds great, right? Well, I was hoping that they would be fighting each other, so that one of them could get wiped out. Right now, I’d favor the young 19-year-old Sonsona by a 1st round knockout.
Viloria, 28, looked awful in his last fight against #15 ranked Jesus Iribe on August 29th. Viloria won by a 12 round decision, but he took a lot of punishment from Iribe in the fight.
Sonsona, who defeated Jose Lopez by a close 12 round decision last Friday night to win the WBO super flyweight title in Ontario, Canada, looked badly flawed in the fight and seemed incapable of stopping right hands from Lopez. Sonsona was helped by a 4th round knockdown of Lopez, in which Sonsona connected with a looping left hand that staggered and dropped Lopez near the ropes.
And then in the 8th, the referee took not one but two points away from Lopez for some borderline low shots. Frankly, I never heard of a referee taking two points away from a fighter in one round before for low blows. That seemed strange.
Taking the 4th and 8th rounds away, Lopez controlled most of the rest of the rounds and had it not been for the knockdown and point deductions, he likely would have easily won the fight. Sonsona has power, but limited boxing skills, poor defense and seems uncomfortable when being pressured. In other words, he can dish out the punishment but he doesn’t seem to be able to take it very well. Sonsona is kind of like a one trick pony – all power without defense or the stamina.
One would hope that if Sonsona is put on the Manila card that he’s matched against someone that is little threat offensively. I would hate to see Sonsona matched against someone talented like Jorge Arce or Rafael Concepcion and end up getting knocked out in front of his country man. Honestly, I can’t see Sonsona holding onto his WBO super flyweight title for more than one fight, because he’s missing in too many areas on offense and defense.
His game seems to be centered around loading up with his punches and throwing wild shots. Sonsona reminds me a lot of a younger version of Michael Katsidis, only a lot more timid than Katsidis and without as good of a chin. Katsidis had no reverse gear two years ago and was an all action fighter. Sonsona isn’t as powerful as Katsidis, and seems shaky when attacked. Sonsona also doesn’t have the jab and defense that Katsidis has.
Viloria didn’t look good in his first defense of his IBF light flyweight title on August 29th, beating Jesus Iribe by a 12 round decision in Honolulu, Hawaii. Despite the fact that Viloria chose from the bottom of the IBF, picking the #15 ranked Iribe to fight for his voluntary defense, I had Iribe winning a number of the middle rounds and scoring often with his bigger and faster shots.
Viloria got the better of him in the majority of the rounds, but that was expected because this guy wasn’t ranked anywhere near the top of the heap in the IBF. For Viloria’s next defense, I’m hoping he gives Ulises Solis a rematch because he deserves one and I think he’ll likely beat Viloria next time around. Omar Nino would be a good opponent for Viloria if Solis isn’t available.
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