Two Filipino boxers to make history in Fresno for IBF Junior Bantamweight title
By Leo Reyes
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 25 May 2018
Two Filipino boxers are all set to make history at the Save Mart Center in Fresno, California, USA on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) to dispute the IBF Junior Bantamweight title.
Reigning IBF Junior Bantamweight champion Jerwin Ancajas (29-1-1, 20 KOs) will put his title on the line against compatriot Jonas Sultan ((14-3-0, 9 KOs), who is the reigning IBF Intercontinental Junior Bantamweight champion.
The 12-round main event is being presented by Bob Arum?s Top Rank Promotions in collaboration with Manny Pacquiao?s MP Promotions and ALA Promotions of Cebu City, Philippines.
It would be a historic fight because it will mark the first time that two Filipino boxers battle for a world championship crown in 93 years. The last time two Filipinos fought for a world championship belt was when Pancho Villa won a unanimous decision verdict against Clever Sencio in 1925 to keep his world flyweight crown.
Veteran boxing analyst and broadcaster Ed Tolentino believes Ancajas is favored to win saying the reigning IBF titlist is a skilled ring tactician who will use his talent and expertise over the relatively inexperienced and unconventional challenger.
?You can see how the fight will go if we go by Ancajas' approach: he will break down Sultan like a math problem and by the middle rounds reduce him into nothing but a simple equation,? Tolentino told ABS-CBN News in a recent interview.
?It is Sultan who is the enigma here: he will try to crowd Ancajas, force to disrupt his rhythm by barging like a drunkard in an otherwise orderly saloon,? he said.
Both fighters are at their prime at 26 but Ancajas has the advantage in both height and reach aside from being a natural southpaw but capable of stance switching when necessary.
Sultan, who hails from Tampilisan, Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines is a tough challenger and could pull off the upset against Ancajas as he did against fellow Filipino world titlist Johnriel Casimero when they clashed in a non-title fight at the Waterfront Hotel & Casino in Cebu City last year. (Read more: http://philboxing.com/news/story-136624.html)
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