Sonsona disappoints against Hernandez

[ElTerribleMorales]

just read this on espn.com, apparently he failed to make weight for his first title defense basically losing his title on the scales, therefore he no longer holds a title, and only managed to escape with a draw, here's Rafael's report

Bantamweight
Marvin Sonsona D12 Alejandro Hernandez
Records: Sonsona, 14-0-1, 12 KOs; Hernandez, 22-7-2, 11 KOs

Scores: 115-113 Sonsona, 115-113 Hernandez, 114-114


"In September, Sonsona, the exciting 19-year-old from the Philippines, announced his arrival on the world stage with a stirring points victory against vastly more experienced titleholder Jose "Carita" Lopez to win a junior bantamweight belt. But making a quick return for his first title defense, Sonsona was a big disappointment. First, he failed to make weight, coming in at 117½ pounds for the 115-pound fight. So Sonsona lost his title at the scale, meaning only the 23-year-old Hernandez, who made weight, was eligible to win the vacant belt. Then Sonsona struggled to a draw in the action fight, meaning the title remains vacant. Sonsona, who is still growing according to his handlers, likely will skip the 118-pound bantamweight division and campaign in the 122-pound junior featherweight class, where he is supposed to debut in his next fight, which is scheduled for Feb. 20 in Manila. Against Hernandez, Sonsona started quickly (in part because Hernandez had trouble with the traction on his shoes), but couldn't maintain the energy level, and Hernandez steadily worked his way back into the fight. Hernandez closed strong to pull even in a fight that was fought at a very brisk and entertaining pace. The draw was absolutely legitimate. This was a very close fight with both guys having their moments throughout the back-and-forth bout. It was the second unsuccessful try for a world title for Hernandez, who lost a unanimous decision to flyweight titlist Omar Narvaez in September 2008."

Andre Ward looks sharp in cutting up Mikkel Kessler - ESPN

[milmascaras1]

i have a question, why is marvin sonsona fighting wilfredo vazquez jr. for juanma lopez' vacant super bantamweight title next year? i think vazquez jr. deserves a title shot but why does sonsona? i mean, he looked terrible in his last fight against a total journeyman alejandro hernandez and couldn't even make weight and got stripped of his title! why are they bypassing antonio escalante who is a real strong title contender? escalante would wipe the floor with sonsona so why is he being excluded?

[ElTerribleMorales]

probably cause it's a more sellable fight, 2 undefeated prospects (even if Sonsona won a title he didn't really do anything with it), both are power punchers, one is the son of a former world champion, and they can use the whole PR vs Phillipines angle that they've been using as of late, but i agree that Sonsona hasn't done anything to deserve a title shot

[milmascaras1]

i think antonio escalante is a much more worthy opponent for vazquez jr. than sonsona. hell, sonsona couldn't even beat a mediocre hernandez even with his weight advantage! escalante would destroy little sonsona with body shots if they ever got the chance to fight. by the way, if this sonsona/vazquez jr. fight goes thru i think vazquez jr. will KTFO out of the undeserving sonsona. war vazquez jr.!!!!

[ElTerribleMorales]

i think antonio escalante is a much more worthy opponent for vazquez jr. than sonsona. hell, sonsona couldn't even beat a mediocre hernandez even with his weight advantage! escalante would destroy little sonsona with body shots if they ever got the chance to fight. by the way, if this sonsona/vazquez jr. fight goes thru i think vazquez jr. will KTFO out of the undeserving sonsona. war vazquez jr.!!!!

i'm not saying that Sonsona deserves the shot, i'm just trying to put a reason why it would most likely happen

[JazMerkin]

i have a question, why is marvin sonsona fighting wilfredo vazquez jr. for juanma lopez' vacant super bantamweight title next year? i think vazquez jr. deserves a title shot but why does sonsona? i mean, he looked terrible in his last fight against a total journeyman alejandro hernandez and couldn't even make weight and got stripped of his title! why are they bypassing antonio escalante who is a real strong title contender? escalante would wipe the floor with sonsona so why is he being excluded?

It's because the WBO have a rule that a champion or recent champion can move up & fight for a belt at a higher weight. Lopez is abandoning the belt, so it's vacant. Escalante is getting bypassed because he's apparently going to be fighting at Featherweight from now on