Marvin ‘Marvelous’ Sonsona, Rodel Mayol in ‘Double Assault’ WASHINGTON, D.C.: Filipino boxing stars Rodel Mayol and Marvin Sonsona go for separate title fights in Mexico and Puerto Rico on Saturday night (Sunday in Manila) in a pay-per-view card billed “Double Assault.” Mayol (26-4-1, 20 knockouts) will defend his World Boxing Council light flyweight title against former world champion Omar Niño (28-3-1, 20 knockouts) in Guadalajara, Mexico.
The 19-year-old Sonsona (14-0-1, 12 knockouts) goes against unbeaten Puerto Rican Wilfredo Vargas Jr. (17-0-1, 14 knockouts) for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight title vacated by Puerto Rican boxing star Juan Manuel Lopez, at the Ruben Rodriguez Coliseum in Bayamon, Puerto Rico.
It will be Mayol’s first title defense of the crown he won on November 21 via a second round technical knockout over Edgar Sosa (37-5) against the same man who dethroned Pinoy flyweight champion Brian Viloria in 2006.
The 33-year-old Niño, the World Boxing Council (WBC) No. 1 contender and a native of Guadalajara, vowed Thursday to bring the title back to Mexico.
Styles make fights, and Mayol-Niño promises to be a classic clash between the aggressive slugger Mayol versus the slick Mexican counter-puncher.
Mayol, a protege of Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao, vowed to go for convincing win against Niño, who has not lost a fight in Guadalajara in nearly 20 fights.
Niño earned his title shot by winning an eight-round technical decision, when he suffered a cut to his head caused by an accidental head butt, against Juanito Rubillar (46-11-7 knockouts) in their June WBC title eliminator in Mexico.
In the other co-main event of the PPV card, Sonsona will gun for his second world title by moving up two weight classes against Vazquez, the reigning WBO Latino super bantamweight champion.
At the final press conference by the two fighters Thursday at the fight venue, Vazquez promised “war in the ring” and vowed to “whip” Sonsona and make history by becoming the first Puerto Rican son of a world champion (Wilfredo Vazquez, Sr.) to capture a world title.
Puerto Rican daily El Nuevo Dia said Sonsona was very polite and respectful during the media day even as his brash foe claimed the Sonsona looked nervous during their stare down.
But Sonsona’s trainer Nonito Donaire Sr. said his young ward would do the talking in the ring on Saturday.
“If Marvin catches up with Vazquez, I think we’ll stop him,” said Donaire, who has so far produced three world champions—his son and namesake Nonito Jr., Ana Julaton and Sonsona.
