MANILA, Philippines – Rust was evident in Marvin Sonsona’s return to the boxing ring following a 3-year hiatus, but the former world champion did just enough to end it with a victory. 

Sonsona (21-1-1, 15 knockouts), who last fought in 2015, bested Indonesia’s Arief Blader (23-27-2, 8 KOs) via unanimous decision in 6 rounds of their super lightweight bout in Survival Instinct: Matira Matibay at the SM City North EDSA Skydome on Sunday, May 13. 

All 3 judges scored the fight 60-54 for the 27-year-old Filipino. 

While he stood victories again, Sonsona’s comeback wasn’t a walk in the park. 

The 27-year-old, who weighed 186 lbs when he first started training, had to lose 45 lbs to make weight for his 141-lb bout against Blader.

Sonsona fell 6 lbs short of his target and tipped the scales at 147 lbs, which resulted in him using 12 oz gloves instead of 10 in the bout presented by ESPN5 Live Boxing, 

“Parang nanibago ako noon na na-feel ko sa taas ng ring na mahirap pala kapag comeback ka, kapag matagal ka nang ‘di nakalaban. Na-feel ko talagang nahirapan ako. Pero ginawa ko lang yung best ko para mapaganda ‘yung laro ko,” he said. 

(I realized it is difficult to fight again when you’ve been away from the ring for so long. I had a hard time. But I did my best to make it a good fight.) 

Regret

There is regret and frustration on the part of Sonsona. 

Once the World Boxing Organization world super flyweight titleholder, he saw his impressive career come to a halt in 2015, citing misunderstanding with his promoters and managers back when he was at the top of his game.

“Sobrang hinayang ko na naisip ko na maraming mali rin akong nagawa, maraming opportunities na binigay sa akin, pinabayaan ko lang. Sobrang hinayang ko, on the top na ako noon tapos number two na ako sa world, IBF, WBC, WBO,” Sonsona said.

(I really regret it because I realized that I made many mistakes and I wasted the opportunities presented to me. I was on the top and I was number two in the world, IBF, WBC and WBO.) 

“Sobrang hinayang ko kasi naging malapit na ako noon e, going to fight na ako ng world champion e. Nagkalabuan kami ng promoter ko, ng manager ko, sa Team Sonsona kaya sobrang hinayang ko.”

(I really regret it because I was close to contending for another world championship. I had a misunderstanding with my promoter, my manager and Team Sonsona.) 

Success followed Sonsona, so did the partying and drinking. 

“Party boy lang talaga ako, mahilig lang talaga ako sa party. After noon, ‘yun ang simula na pinabayaan ko na talaga ang boxing.” 

(I was a party boy, I was fond of partying. After that, that was when I started taking boxing for granted.) 

But he made it clear he never took drugs, contrary to what people thought of him after he left the boxing spotlight. 

“Aaminin ko, umiinom ako pero about drugs, wala. Kahit anong kunin sakin about drugs, wala silang makikita sa akin,” said Sonsona. 

(I admit that I drink but I didn’t do drugs. They can take anything from me but they can never prove that I took drugs.) 

Back to where he belonged

Sonsona spent those 3 years away from boxing taking care of his kid after his wife left to work overseas. 

And in those 3 years, making a boxing comeback was far from his mind. 

“Feel ko na wala na talaga akong pangalan, pangalan ko parang laos na talaga. Nafi-feel ko talaga na wala na siguro ang pangalan ko,” he said.

(I felt that I had no name, that I was already irrelevant.) 

Fortunately for Sonsona, Joven Jimenez, head trainer of IBF world super flyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas, took him to the Survival Camp in Magallanes, Cavite, away from the city life. 

“Marvelous” plans to lose weight again and drop to the lightweight division where he is comfortable. 

“Ito na talaga yung back on track ko talaga tsaka tuloy tuloy na talaga to kasi may pamilya na ako e, kaya sabi ko kay coach Joven, tulungan lang nila ako basta tuloy tuloy lang ako,” said Sonsona. 

(I am back on track and I will continue this because I have a family. I told coach Joven to just help me and I will continue to fight.)

“Ngayong blessing na naman ang binigay, hindi ko na ito papakawalan.”

(I’ve been given another blessing and I will not let this go.) – Rappler.com