Money coming for Sultan
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 13 Apr 2020
Jonas Sultan.
GAB chairman Baham Mitra has been assured by South African promoter Rodney Berman that superflyweight boxer Jonas Sultan will receive 10 percent of the purse he should’ve earned in the fight that was called off at the Emperor’s Palace, Kempton Park, scheduled last March 21.
Sultan and trainer Edmund Villamor left Cebu to travel to Johannesburg last March 14 to keep the appointment with Ricardo Malajika in a 10-round bout. The day after they arrived, Sultan and Villamor were told that the fight was suspended because of the coronavirus outbreak. They took the first flight back home without getting paid 10 percent of the fighter’s purse as stipulated in the contract if the bout is postponed or cancelled.
Last Wednesday, Mitra sent an urgent email to Berman, who owns Golden Gloves Promotions, inquiring about the payment after Sultan confirmed he had not been paid a cent. “We recognize that both your promotion as well as Mr. Sultan’s team are right now in the midst of this global pandemic but we are hoping that Mr. Sultan, who other than pouring in money in his training to fight for the postponed fight, has also suffered financial setback as a result of this world crisis, will be paid his due entitlement (10 percent of the purse agreed) in the contract,” said Mitra.
The next day, Berman replied to Mitra, assuring he would abide by the contract terms. “We had already come to an agreement with our agent Gabriel Elorde and between the fighter and the agent (that) $2,000 would be paid in compensation,” said Berman.
ALA Boxing head trainer Edito Villamor, who coordinated the fight with Elorde, said the contracted purse was bumped up from $8,000 to $10,000 so Sultan will be paid $1,000 or 10 percent. The other $1,000 will be given to Elorde as matchmaker and agent. Villamor said Elorde shouldered expenses for visas and travel tax so his share will be to reimburse him for his services. As of yesterday, Berman had not remitted the amount to Elorde. “Hindi pa natanggap, sabi ni Sir Bebot (Elorde),” said Villamor.
Elorde followed up payment from Berman two weeks ago but received no reply. But when Mitra sent Berman his email, the reply came quickly with the assurance that the money is on the way. “Malaking tulong kay Jonas ito,” said Villamor.
During this lockdown, Sultan is staying at the ALA Gym quarters in Cebu to continue training with two other pros Milan Melindo and Melvin Jerusalem. Melindo is the former IBF lightflyweight champion now ranked No. 7 by the WBC in the 108-pound division. Jerusalem is ranked No. 1 by the WBC, No. 4 by the IBF and No. 5 by the WBO in the 105-pound minimumweight class.
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