By Ronnie Nathanielsz

Former WBO flyweight champion and reigning North American Boxing Federation featherweight champion Marvin Sonsona plans a marvelous return when he defends his title against WBC Silver champion Rocky Juarez on December 21, most probably in Cebu City.

BoxingScene.com/Manila Standard/Viva Sports learned that Juarez will also put his WBC Silver title on the line to battle Sonsona.

We were informed that the clash of the two fighters who are both title holders will serve as the final eliminator to determine the mandatory challengers slot for the title recently retained by Mexico’s Jhonny Gonzalez who hammered veteran Jorge “Travieso” Arce via an 11th round TKO and sent the ageing fighter into retirement.



Sonsona has been languishing in his hometown of General Santos City waiting for word on a possible fight with well-known matchmaker Sampson Lewkowicz telling the Standard some weeks ago that he was working on a fight for Sonsona who is eager to get back into the ring.

The fight against Juarez will be crucial for the lanky southpaw Sonsona who has the skill and the punching power to regain a world title provided e trains hard and remains focused.

We gather that details are being finalized for the Cebu venue which is likely to be the Waterfront Hotel and Casino.

The 24 year old Sonsona has a record of 19-1-1 with 15 knockouts with a spectacular 3rd round knockout of former WBA super bantamweight champion Akifumi Shimoda in Macau last February 22 once again putting the colorful southpaw in the picture.

Juarez is a 34 year old veteran with a record of 30-10-1 with 21 knockouts and has faced some of the very best including Marco Antonio Barrera, Juan Manuel Marquez, Humberto Sotto and Chris John.

His victory over Rene Alvarado to win the WBC Silver title in El Paso, Texas last May 26 was considered an upset.

Felix Chavez of the El Paso Times reported veteran Juarez proved his boxing career isn't quite finished when the former world title challenger showed his experience and toughness by defeating Nicaragua's Rene Alvarado by a 12-round unanimous decision to claim the World Boxing Council Silver featherweight title in front of an enthusiastic crowd of military personnel. Juarez won 117-111 on one official scorecard and 116-112 on the other two scorecards.

Alvarado (20-3) started fast and was the busier fighter throughout the first five rounds, throwing more combinations and landing some strong rights.

But in the sixth, Juarez (30-10-1) became the aggressor, landing a solid jab, going to the body and landing several left hooks and right hands. Over the last half of the fight it was Juarez who took control of the fight and landed the harder punches. Alvarado was puffy under both eyes and had a small cut under his right eye. Juarez also had the crowd behind him. In the last few rounds, fans chanted his name several times to encourage him.