The search for the new Manny Pacquiao could be over.

Thousands of miles away in Canada, Filipino Marvin Sonsona, a heavyhanded southpaw like Pacquiao, captured the World Boxing Organization (WBO) super-flyweight crown with a rousing 12-round unanimous decision over Puerto Rican Jose ‘Carita’ Lopez.

Sonsona, just 19 years old and once described by a Filipino boxing analyst as the next Pacquiao, banked on a fourthround knockdown and a two-point deduction slapped against Lopez in the eighth round to win by scores of 114-111, 115-110 and 116-109.

Fighting for the first time outside the Philippines, Sonsona, who had never gone past five rounds in all of his previous 13 fights, sent Lopez down with a sweeping left to the head and appeared on his way to a brutal kayo win.

But the 37-year-old Latin fighter, who has never lost in eight years, got up just before the bell sounded that allowed him to clear the cobwebs that was brought about by Sonsona’s lethal left.

Despite hurting Lopez, Sonsona could not land as effectively as he had but still managed to connect to make an impression on the three judges.

Lopez tried to mount a comeback and looked as though he was going to turn the tide in rounds eight and nine as he apparently stung the ultra-aggressive Sonsona, who comes from General Santos City like Pacquiao.

A sizeable number of Filipinos who watched the bout live at the Casino Rama in Ontario, Canada were ecstatic when it was officially announced that Sonsona had put an end to Lopez’s string of victories.

The win boosted Sonsona’s record to 14-0 with 12 knockouts, while the loss dropped Lopez’s mark to 39-8-2.

The win made Sonsona one of the youngest Filipino world champions ever as he joins the company of junior-welter Morris East, junior-lightweight Ben Villaflor and Pacquiao.

Lending a hand to Sonsona’s conquest were trainers Nonito Donaire Sr. and Jun Agrabio, while providing morale boost were his manager Dr. Rajan Yraola and promoter Sammy Gello-ani.

Sonsona weighed in at 115 lbs, while Lopez came in at 114 ¼ lbs.