Star Snippets: Park Ji-sung, Jiang Chen, Marvin Sonsona …..

Benjie — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 10:27:46 +0000

South Korea’s Park Ji-sung was named one among the CNN Football Heroes of the Decade. Park was cited for his role of leading the Asians in the prestigious football leagues across the globe. He was the first Asian to play in the Champions League. Therein after, Asians have been starting to invade the premier leagues.

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Jiang Chen of China has rejoined his teammates in Tianjin Teda after being loaned to Wellington Phoenix in the Australasian A-League in New Zealand. The 23-year old striker native of Dalian played only a couple of games for the Wellington-based club. Chen is expected to lead his mother club to a decent finish in the Chinese Super League this season.

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Japan’s national football coach Takeshi Okada remains optimistic about his country’s semi-final appearance in the upcoming World Cup. Okada told Reuters that his players have begun to believe in his reasonable target of achieving the final four. Earlier, he was subject to criticism even in his home country for his unrealistic goal in the World Cup.

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Filipino Marvin Sonsona is set of face the son and namesake of Puerto Rican legend Wilfredo Vasquez on February 27 in Puerto Rico. Sonsona first rose to fame back in September of last year when he defeated Jose Lopez via a Unanimous Decision to capture the WBO super flyweight title at a tender age of 19. He became the second youngest Filipino boxing champion after Morris East did the feat in 1992.

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Japanese Yasutaka Kuroki is scheduled to defend his OPBF minimum weight crown against compatriot Takumi Suda on February 1 in Tokyo. The 27-year old native of Ibaragi hopes to continue his two-fight winning streak after figuring in a draw against fellow Japanese Junichiro Kaneda in March 27, 2009. Kuroki’s record currently stands at 22-3-1 with 14 KOs.

Sonsona too soon for the championship

Benjie — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 06:40:46 +0000

PHOTO COURTESY: FRIENDSTER.COM

For weeks, I have been checking out with the developments of the upcoming Sonsona – Lopez fight in Ontario, Canada on September 4. Filipino Marvin Sonsona, a promising young prospect from Gen. Santos City will challenge Jose Lopez of Puerto Rico for the WBO super flyweight title. Sonsona is currently the WBO Oriental flyweight champion.

I have heard and read so many accolades about Sonsona being an explosive fighter being groomed as ‘the next Manny Pacquiao’. His record stands at 13-0-0 with 12 KOs. Though his record is far impressive, I’m concerned with him being rushed in the spotlight. Come to think of it, he is just 19 years and 41 days old on fight night. He has fought only 13 fights and all being in the Philippines. To make things worse, he has never gone beyond five rounds in his pro career. He may have the potential of being the next ‘Big thing’ in Philippine boxing, but I think he is too young and too raw to challenge a polished veteran. The idea was to break the record as the youngest Filipino world champion ever. However, records show that Morris East was 19 years and 32 days old when he became a world champion in September 9, 1992. So, this is a non-bearing match for record purposes. His opponent Jose Lopez is 37 years old and has a 39-7-2 record with 32 KOs.

I may be too pessimistic and may be proven wrong come September 4.

Benjsports.com » Morris East

Star Snippets: Park Ji-sung, Jiang Chen, Marvin Sonsona …..

Sonsona too soon for the championship