JONAS Sultan may not have the rep so far of some of the top boxers in the country, but he is a capable fighter and he showed it in his fight against Puerto Rican up-and-comer Carlos Caraballo, Sunday (Manila time), in New York.
Mr. Sultan, 29, claimed the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) Intercontinental bantamweight title with a unanimous decision victory over Mr. Caraballo in their 10-round showdown at the Hulu Theater in Madison Square Garden on Sunday (Manila time).
The Filipino bet, who was installed as an underdog entering the fight, knocked down his opponent four times throughout the course of the contest and wound up a 94-93 winner in all three judges鈥 scorecards.
It was Mr. Sultan鈥檚 third straight victory and second for the year after his knockdown win over American Sharone Carter in August.
For local boxing analyst Nissi Icasiano, more than keeping his winning streak going, the Caraballo win showed Mr. Sultan鈥檚 abilities as a solid fighter and potential to go places if provided the opportunities needed.
鈥淪ultan was intended to be another pedestrian opponent for an up-and-coming boxer like Caraballo. But in the fight, Sultan insisted that he鈥檚 nobody鈥檚 footstool and flipped the script,鈥 said Mr. Icasiano when asked by鈥叠耻蝉颈苍别蝉蝉奥辞谤濒诲鈥for his thoughts post-fight.
The analyst highlighted how Mr. Sultan showed perseverance, stayed the course and remained go-getting even when Mr. Caraballo put up a tough resistance.
鈥淭he Filipino just wanted it so bad and worked hard to get the win,鈥 Mr. Icasiano said.
The analyst, however,鈥痭oted it remains to be seen if the win would open bigger opportunities for Mr. Sultan immediately just as he said the boxer鈥檚 handlers at MP Promotions should build on the gains its fighter achieved in his latest triumph.
鈥淚 just hope that MP Promotions can sustain the momentum and ride on it at the same time. It鈥檚 too early to say if he will get a title shot. He鈥檚 ranked No. 9 in the WBA (World Boxing Association), but the Intercontinental title that鈥檚 now in his possession came from WBO. He鈥檚 nowhere to be found yet in the WBO bantamweight rankings, but that win may break him in the WBO鈥檚 rankings,鈥 Mr. Icasiano said.
Adding, 鈥淚 would like to see Sultan in a 12-round fight first against an opponent who鈥檚 outside the Top 10 or Top 15 before taking on ranked fighters that will help him secure a world title shot.鈥
Mr. Sultan now sports an 18-5 record, 11 wins coming by way of knockout. 鈥斺Michael Angelo S. Murillo
