Sultan embraces underdog role
ALA Boxing Gym stalwart Jonas ‘Zorro’ Sultan (14-3, 9KOs) relishes his underdog status once again as he continues to prepare for the historic all-Filipino world title showdown against IBF super flyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas (29-1, 20KOs) on May 26 at Selland Arena in Fresno, California.
The 26-year-old Sultan said that he is happy to be labeled as the underdog as he vowed to upset the odds against Ancajas.
“I know many Pinoy fans and boxing analysts are giving me a slim chance of winning this fight, but I am determined to prove them wrong,” said Sultan in a press conference yesterday at the Park Social in Cebu I.T Park.
“It gives me more inspiration in training. It gives me a challenge to show to them that they are wrong in their choice. It’s Jerwin who should be feeling the pressure right now and not me,” added Sultan.
This is not the first time that Sul- tan will be fighting as an underdog as he also fought and defeated two former world champions before.
The ALA boxer scored a monumental upset of two-division world champion Johnriel “Quadro Alas” Casimero last September 16, 2017 that earned him a mandatory shot at the IBF title.
Before that, the Tampilisan, Zamlamor. boanga Del Norte-native, also knocked out former WBC flyweight champion Sonny Boy Jaro in May last year.
“This is not new for him (Sultan),” said ALA chief trainer Edito Vil- “Jonas is a smart fighter and he knows how to adjust against his opponent. We are very positive with his chance. Jerwin is a good boxer but we already knew his weakness.”
Sultan together with his stable mate and three-division world champion Donnie ‘Ahas’ Nietes will fly to the United States this weekend to train in the famed Wild Card Gym of Hallof-Famer Freddie Roach.
Nietes (41-1, 23 KOs), for his part, wants to prepare early as he seeks to join the ranks of elite Filipino boxers who have won world titles in four different weight divisions.
The country’s longest reigning world champion is set to face countryman Aston Palicte (24-2, 20KOs) for the vacant WBO super flyweight championship this year.
“I am confident in beating him. It doesn’t make a difference whether I fight a foreign opponent or a Filipino. I am focus on my goal and that is to get that belt,” he said.
Meanwhile, the third edition of the ‘IDOL’boxing series is set on June 16 at the Tabuelan Astrodome and is headlined by undefeated Kevin Jake ‘KJ’ Cataraja who will be facing Indonesian Frengky Rohi in a 10-round non-title bout under the flyweight division.