by Ronnie Nathanielsz

World rated featherweight “Marvelous” Marvin Sonsona must train seriously before he can be assured of a title eliminator in his North American Boxing Federation title defense against undefeated Puerto Rican Jayson Velez.

Sonsona is co-promoted by Gello-ani and internationally known Sampson Lewkowicz. Gello-ani told krikya360.com/Manila Standard/Viva Sports that Sonsona, who is currently training at the Roy Jones Jr gym in Las Vegas - “must show his seriousness in training”  to get the fight against Velez which was initially scheduled to take place sometime last December and scrapped by Lewkowicz and Gello-ani because of Sonsona’s failure to train and their not knowing what he would do.

Gello-ani told the Standard that this time the lanky southpaw with a record of 19-1-1 and 15 knockouts (ranked No. 2 by the WBC, No. 4 by the IBF and No. 5 by the WBA) - “is looking very impressive” and he is “looking forward to changes in the attitude”  of the talented fighter.

However, Gello-ani said he “can’t confirm the fight” against Velez because he doesn’t have a contract or anything.

He said they want Sonsona to “train first and to get in shape and for this he needs almost two months.”

Fight fans believed Sonsona’s career was taking off after his sensational 3rd round knockout of former world champion Akifumi Shimoda on February 22 last year. In his next fight Sonsona won a split decision over former world champion Wilfredo Vazquez Jr in a battle for the WBO International super bantamweight title after Sonsona dropped Vazquez in the first round but eventually faded in the championship rounds because of a lack of training.

Gello-ani said they plan to have Sonsona and IBF flyweight mandatory challenger and former world light flyweight champion Johnreil Casimero continue training in the Big Bear camp in California.

He said they are also waiting for the result of the flyweight title fight between champion Amnat Ruenroeng of Thailand and Zou Shiming of China with the winner scheduled to face Casimero who stepped aside to allow the Zou Shiming-Ruenroeng fight to take place at the Cotai Arena in Macao on March 7.