ONE-TIME world title challenger Jonas Sultan has had an opponent change just a few days away from his US return on Aug. 22, 2021 (PH time).
Instead of Jose Maria Cardenas, Sultan faces Sharone Carter in the undercard of the world championship bout between World Boxing Organization bantamweight king Johnriel Casimero and two-division world champion Guillermo Rigondeaux at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.
Cardenas reportedly couldn’t make the trip because of Covid-19 restrictions from Mexico to the US.
The 30-year-old Carter is a slick fighter from St. Louis, Missouri.
He fought some elite names like World Boxing Association No. 1 ranked bantamweight Rau’shee Warren, former International Boxing super flyweight titleholder McJoe Arroyo and ex-WBO super bantamweight titlist Angelo Leo.
Carter beat Arroyo, a former Olympian, by unanimous decision earlier this year. He lost to Warren by unanimous decision this year and to Kei also by unanimous decision in 2018.
The 29-year-old Sultan has been training with Team Casimero at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, alongside Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao, Mark Magsayo and former world champion Marlon Tapales.
Sultan is in tip-top condition despite not fighting in two years.
He last saw action in 2018 against Salatiel Amit, who he stopped in seven rounds in Ormoc City. Since then, Sultan has kept himself in shape as International Boxing Federation super flyweight champion Jerwin Acajas’ main sparring partner in a title defense earlier this year.
Sultan was originally brought to the US as Casimero’s sparring partner for Nonito Donaire Jr. Luckily, Sultan earned a fight in Casimero’s undercard.
Sultan is 16-5 with 10 knockouts, while Carter is 12-4 with three knockouts. (EKA)