Only in the Philippines!

Marvin Sonsona claimed the WBO junior bantamweight title with a unanimous decision victory over Jose Lopez last Sept. 04 in Canada. On the undercard, Canadian Steve Molitor defeated Dario Azuaga at the Casino Rama.

Nineteen year-old ‘Marvelous’ Marvin Sonsona (14-0, 12 KO’s) cemented his reputation as one of boxing’s best young fighters, emerging from 12 rounds of hellacious action with Jose ‘Carita’ Lopez (39-8-2, 32 KO’s) as the new WBO Jr. Bantamweight champion courtesy of a bruising unanimous decision win in the main event of Rumble at Rama IX.


Scores were 116-109, 115-110, 114-111 in favour of Sonsona.

“Lopez was such a tough fighter, and winning a decision against shows that I’m a real fighter, and a worthy champion,” Sonsona said moments after the official decision was announced.

Both fighters fought up to their well deserved reputations with the powerful Sonsona landing bombs throughout the fight, flooring Lopez with a huge left hook in the fourth, and wobbling the indomitable Puerto Rican numerous times.

For his part, Lopez gave as good has got, regularly returning fire, and scoring his own meaningful shots that stunned Sonsona.

In the end, it was Sonsona’s ability to adapt throughout the topsy-turvy twelve rounds that made him the youngest Filipino world champion in history.

“The Filipino people here were so great, and made me feel at home. That helped give me the strength to be a champion.”

In the co-main event, former IBF 122 lb. world champion “The Canadian Kid” Steve Molitor improved to 30-1, with 12 KO’s with an impressive fifth round knockout over a game, but thoroughly outclassed Dario Azuaga.

An aggressive Molitor marked his reunion with old trainer Chris Johnson by pressing the pace throughout the fight, landing with meaningful combinations before dropping Azuaga once in the fourth and ending matters with a punishing flurry to the body in the fifth.

“It was like old times,” Molitor said of working again with Johnson, who was chief second for in the Canadian’s corner for his title winning KO over Michael Hunter in November of 2006, and four subsequent successful title defenses.

“I was confident, throwing in combinations, and felt like the same dominant fighter I was before. It’s only a matter of time before I get my hands on that second world title.”

In other action from Rumble at Rama IX…

Canadian Heavyweight champion Greg Kielsa and hulking heavyweight Kevin Montiy had their ten round bout stopped in the second round after Montiy sustained a gash over his left eye as a result of a head butt. The fight was announced as a technical draw, but rules dictate that it in fact should have been a no-contest.

Stephan Boyd stopped Pedro De Melo in round two of their Super Middleweight showdown.

Felix Mercedes hammered debuting Dan Caron, stopping the Toronto resident in round one.

Justin fountain outlasted Freddie Abbiw scoring a four round unanimous decision.