EDEN SONSONA TO CHALLENGE UNDEFEATED RUSSIAN CHAMP FOR WBO INTER-CONTINENTAL TITLE

REJUVENATED Eden “Sanman” Sonsona of General Santos City will now challenge the dangerous WBO Inter-Continental super featherweight champion Evgeny “Happy Gilmore” Chuprakov of Russia on May 5 at the DIVS, Ekaterinburg.
Sonsona of Sanman Boxing Gym will be accompanied by his manager Jim Claude “JC” Manangquil and trainers Romeo “Dodong” Desabille and Bebot Valendez.
“This is a good fight for Eden. We are confident with his ability and his toughness,” said Manangquil, who was given the Best Promoter award during the annual 17th Gabriel “Flash” Elorde Memorial Awards Banquet of Champions.
Sonsona (36-6-2, 13 knockouts) previously captured the vacant World Boxing Federation (WBF) International super featherweight title by stopping Jovany Rota in 1:41 of the first round last February 26 at the Lagao Gym in Gensan.
Chuprakov, on the other hand, is still undefeated with 17 straight wins with 9 knockouts.
He won the WBO Inter-Continental super featherweight title via a majority decision over previously unbeaten Jeremiah Nakathila (11-1) last November 18 in DIVS.
Chuprakov is also a former WBO European and Russia super featherweight champion.
But Sonsona is not afraid of the Russian. In fact, Sonsona has been waiting for this chance to fight again in foreign soil.
“I’m very excited to fight on May 5. I’m used to fighting on the road so it doesn’t bother me. I will knock him out,” said the 28-year old Sonsona.
Sonsona last fought outside the country on May 16, 2015 when he knocked out in the second round then-undefeated Mexican Adrian Estrella to win the vacant WBC International Silver super featherweight title at the Auditorio Miguel Barragan in San Luis Potosi, San Luis Potosí, Mexico.
Sonsona also scored an 8th round knockout win against Mauricio Pastrana in the undercard of the WBO World welterweight championship between Manny Pacquiao and Joshua Clottey last March 13, 2010 at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, USA.
Sonsona first saw action in the undercard of the Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto title fight held November 14, 2009 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada wherein he TKO’d Eilon Kedem in the 2nd round.
Sonsona also fought but lost in Japan, South Africa and Thailand before he won two fights in the US and lastly in Mexico.
He first went to Japan on October 6, 2007 to bow by a split decision to Kohei Kono in their battled for the vacant OPBF super flyweight crown at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.
Sonsona then challenged IBO World bantamweight champion Silence Mabuza on February 2, 2008 at the Emperors Palace in Guateng, South Africa. But he lost by a technical decision in the 8th round.
Sonsona also dropped a unanimous decision to then defending champion Panya Uthok for the WBC Youth World bantamweight title on February 6, 2009 in Ayuttahay, Thailand.
After almost a year of rest, Sonsona successfully made a comeback by beating former champion Jaime Barcelona by a majority decision last December 4 at the Robinson’s Mall Atrium in General Santos City.
“Mas condition na ako ngayon compared to my first comeback fight last year. Ngayon pa lang kuha ko na ang aking timbang,” said Sonsona.