Sultan confident of defending IBF belt vs fellow Pinoy fighter

AFTER overcoming a huge challenge in South Africa last year to wrest the IBF Inter-continental super flyweight title against African Makazole Tete, ALA Boxing Gym’s Jonas “Zorro” Sultan is ready to defend his belt for the first time.

Getting first crack at Sultan’s title is former world champion and fellow Filipino Sonny Boy Jaro. Both will square off on March 19 at the Makati Cinema Square, in Makati City.

Sultan, 25, a native of Tampilisan, Zamboanga del Norte, is confident he’ll keep the belt, saying that the 34-year-old hard hitting former WBC world flyweight champion is way beyond his prime.

“I am sure that I will defeat him by decision or by knockout,” said Sultan of ALA Boxing Gym. “Let’s just see in the ring because I will do my best to win the fight and defend my title.”

Sultan and Jaro’s fight is one of the most anticipated fights in the local boxing scene this year since both boxers are known for their knockout powers.

Sultan holds a record of 12 wins with eight knockouts along with three defeats while Jaro has a record of 43 wins (30 knockouts) coupled with 13 defeats and five draws.

Sultan won his three most recent bouts via knockouts. He won the IBF inter-continental super flyweight title against Tete by a second-round knockout. He also won the Philippine super flyweight title by knocking out Romel Oliveros in the fifth round and upset Japanese Tatsuya Ikemizu in the second round of their bout also last year.

Jaro isn’t going to be a pushover as he has won nine straight from 2013 to 2016 following his three straight losses. He won the WBC international super flyweight title in the process.

But Sultan is ready for the veteran boxer. “I have trained very hard for this fight. This will be my time to show everyone how determined I am to fight and win against this veteran boxer,” Sultan said.