‘Taboo’ fight is finally happening – Aldeguer

FRESNO, California – Promoter Michael Aldeguer swore that he felt kind of sick at the thought of seeing two Filipinos battle for a world title.

Aldeguer, who operates one of the Philippines’ leading promotional outfits, even came up with the perfect word to describe the pairing: Taboo.

But as time went by, Aldeguer realized that while it looked awkward to see such a fight taking place, he looked at it differently.

Four days before history unfolds with Jerwin Ancajas staking the International Boxing Federation (IBF) super-flyweight title against mandatory challenger Jonas Sultan at the Save Mart Center, Aldeguer is oozing with excitement.

“I felt this was not going to happen,” said Aldeguer, stressing nonetheless that fight fans are eagerly awaiting the scheduled 12-round clash for the IBF 115lb throne.

“A fight people have been waiting for. Something we thought that it wouldn’t happen because nobody wanted to see two Filipinos (fighting).”

Aldeguer said the fact that Ancajas and Sultan are about to square off is proof that “Filipino fighters have arrived.”

This weekend’s match will only be the second time that two Filipinos are squaring off with a world championship on the line after Pancho Villa beat Clever Sencio in Manila in 1923.

But instead of looking the other way, Aldeguer welcomed the idea of sending his fighter Sultan into battle with one of boxing’s fastest rising stars.

“Jonas is always a confident fighter. This guy is for real,” he said.

Sultan (14-3 with nine KOs) is the clear underdog against Ancajas (29-1 with 20 KOs), who is making the fifth defense of the title he had won in 2016.

During an open training session Wednesday at Heartbeat Boxing, Sultan showcased his moves and punching power by pummeling the pads held by trainer Edmond Villamor, the sound of almost every punch reverberating across the old school gym.

When it was Ancajas’ turn to display his wares, he and lead trainer Joven Jimenez just went through the motions of the mitts session, both looking bland and very pedestrian.

But knowing their training regimen, it was just another ordinary day in the office for Ancajas and Jimenez as they both know well that they have to save on ammo for the real war ahead.