Sonsona KOs rival in Pacquiao undercard

Super-bantamweight prospect Eden Sonsona gave the Philippines a rousing start in the Manny Pacquiao-Joshua Clottey boxing card, stopping his rival on Saturday at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas (Sunday in Manila). Sonsona, cousin of former world champion Marvin Sonsona, knocked out Colombian Mauricio Pastrana in the last round of their eight-round battle that served as one of the curtain-raisers for the Pacquiao-Clottey duel. The 21-year-old Sonsona sent Pastrana down early in the eighth then finished him off at 1:33 to hike his record to 21-5 (7 KOs). Pastrana slipped to 35-13-2. Michael Farenas, the second of three Filipinos in the card dubbed "The Event," however, failed to completely deliver a devastating performance as his eight-round featherweight bout with San Antonio's Joe Morales ended in a no-contest. Farenas (27-2-3, 24 KOs), according to Fightnews.com, controlled the fight from the opening bell, but a clash of head at 2:25 of the second round opened an ugly cut over the right eye of Morales (20-13, 4 KOs), forcing the referee to stop the fight upon the recommendation of the ringside physician. Under US rules, any bout which ends prior to the completion of the 4th round, due to an accidental headbutt, is to be declared a no-contest. The card's main attraction Pacquiao will be defending his World Boxing Organization welterweight title against Clottey later in the night at the $1.2-billion stadium. - GMANews.TV