Saturday, June 23, 2007 At the French front, Sultan risks belt
FILIPINO World Boxing Foundation (WBF) champion Dondon Sultan is putting his welterweight belt for the first time against a tough French challenger Hamza Issa today (Sunday RP time) at the Salle Edgard Quinet, Calais, Pas de Calais, France.
Sultan, together with his manager Sammy Gello-ani, left Cebu for France last Monday and was expected to arrive in France last Tuesday.
Before Sultan left, he had completed a total of 120 rounds of sparring sessions and will be ready to defend his belt against his No.12 contender and the reigning WBF Inter-Continental welterweight champion.
“I had hard time winning this title and I won’t let this (title) be taken away by just anybody. I trained hard, I had completed 120 rounds of sparring and I am ready,” Sultan told Sun.Star-Cebu.
Aside from losing the belt, Sultan would also loss his chance to make a fight in the US, where bigger purse awaits.
Sultan of the SGG Boxing Stable won the vacant title following a unanimous decision victory over Eddie Delic of Australia last Nov. 25 at the Suntec International Convention Center in Singapore.
Issa, on the other hand, is expected to bring a tough fight on the Filipino puncher as he enjoys a home-court advantage.
Winning streak
The French warrior carries a seven-fight winning streak of his 12-5-4 win-loss-draw record with five knockout wins to his credit.
He won the WBF Intercontinental title after beating Turgay Uzan by unanimous decision in April last year. He made two successful defenses by winning over Fabrice Colombel in October 2006 by unanimous decision and over George Ungiadze also by unanimous decision last March 30.
Sultan, the former Pan-Asian Boxing Association welterweight champion is carrying a 15-6-2, seven knockouts into this fight. (RCM)
