JONAS Sultan is brimming with excitement with just a few days left before the biggest fight of his young and promising career.
“I’m very excited,” the 26-year-old Sultan told SunStar Cebu. “I’m ready to go. I’m very focused for this fight.”
Sultan is challenging International Boxing Federation (IBF) super flyweight king Jerwin Ancajas in an all-Filipino world championship fight on Sunday (RP time) in the Selland Arena in Fresno, California.
Though coming in as an underdog, Sultan is optimistic about his odds in beating Ancajas, who has already won four title defenses.
“I don’t know if they are underestimating me but that’s what some have said. I don’t care if they underestimate me,” he said. “He’s a good fighter but I know I can beat him. It goes down with the one who has the better strategy.”
Sultan earned his title shot after an upset unanimous decision win over two-division world champion Johnriel Casimero last September in the Waterfront Hotel and Casino in Cebu City.
“I’ll put pressure on him. I can fight with different styles. I’ll fight with a style that suits his style,” said Sultan.
The 26-year-old Ancajas is one of the hottest figures in Philippine boxing. He has been dubbed by some as the next Manny Pacquiao.
Ancajas won his IBF crown after a unanimous decision over then unbeaten McJoe Arroyo. He then beat Jose Alfredo Rodriguez, Teiru Kinoshita, Jaime Conlan and Israel Gonzalez all by knockout in his four title defenses.
Ancajas is 29-1-1 with 20 knockouts, while Sultan is 14-3 with nine knockouts.
The Ancajas and Sultan bout is the first all-Filipino world championship fight in 93 years. (EKA)