ONE became champion unexpectedly, which was a pleasant surprise to fight fans parched and eager for an infusion of new blood to our nation’s boxing pedigree.

The other was groomed to become one even at the early stages of his career. He was fast and strong and his left hook was deadly. Yet, try as he might, he would be denied time and again.

But over the weekend, these two fighters met contrasting fates and the champion who was, became an ex and the champion who never would be, became one.

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SONSONA. “Marvelous” Marvin Sonsona was quite a revelation. Just last September, he marvelously made my heart leap as he courageously battered Jose Lopez to snatch the latter’s WBO Superflyweight crown.

The fight was far from easy, and Lopez gave Marvin a savage beating in the middle rounds. But Marvin hung on and never gave up trying. He went back to basics and launched the most basic of boxing combinations, time and again. One-two, one–two. Jab. Left straight.

The scorecards were accurately reflective of the battle that preceded it and Marvin Sonsona, 19-year old upstart from General Santos City, was our nation’s second youngest world champion.

But last week, an overweight Sonsona was ingloriously stripped of his title as a consequence of failing to make the weight for his scheduled defense against Alejandro Hernandez at Ontario, Canada.

The fight that followed was largely inconsequential, and the luckless draw that Marvin got only served to highlight the disappointment felt by all. For indeed, how could one lose such a coveted title earned by shedding blood, sweat and tears by this time ironically failing to shed pounds?

MAYOL. This very distant cousin from my mother’s side has had his heart broken several times. Four times to be exact. But perhaps his obdurate attitude served him well.

In his first stab at boxing glory, he was beaten fair and square by Eagle Kyowa, and we can probably write that off to inexperience.

The second one was heart rending as he was right in there with IBF champ Ulises Solis till the knockout blow was administered.

Word was that he was under-trained and lacked conditioning which made him tired early.

Boxing is not a place for tired fighters. A tired fighter gets knocked out.

His second and third tries were even more distressing. Puerto Rican WBO junior flyweight champ Ivan Calderon is a hard man to fight. Go ask his 32 opponents who have yet to score a win over him.

He is diminutive, which makes him inherently difficult to hit and he is deceptively fast.

Compounding to his opponent’s woes is his southpaw stance. Indeed, a nightmare for any opponent.

But last weekend, Mayol was up against a different kind of champion, Edgar Sosa who held the WBC light flyweight title.

Not an easy opponent, to be sure. His roster of Filipino victims included Brian Viloria and Juanito Rubillar.

But Sosa wasn’t particularly fast, which meant he was hittable. And if you have been paying close attention to Mayol’s career, if he can hit you, chances are you are going to go.

The first round was close but Sosa definitely felt Mayol’s power early. In the second round, Mayol was attempting to land a right hand on Sosa’s exposed left ribs, but unfortunately Batang Mandaue’s forehead nicked the left side of Sosa’s face.

The impact was immediate, and the champion turned away in pain. (to be concluded on Tuesday).

LAST ROUND. It’s on two dear friends, Edge and Mei Genosa who are in town for a visit, all the way from Boston, Massachusetts. Cheers!

(jingo_quijano@yahoo.com)