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SPORTS SHORTS 242: JONAS SULTAN AIMS TO BE THE FIRST FIGHTER TO DEFEAT CARLOS CARABALLO

By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 19 Oct 2021



Jonas Sultan sights on becoming the first boxer to beat Carlos Caraballo, who was undefeated in all his 14 fights and knocked out all his opponents.

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Sultan watched all the replays of all Caraballo's fights, and he is confident that the Puerto Rican rising star is not indestructible and not as mighty as he was known to be.

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The truth is, Sultan believes he has stronger punches than Caraballo when they battle on October 30 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

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"Maybe he'll run when I connect with a solid punch," said Sultan as told to Rappler. "Sure, he has more knockouts, but from what I saw, his opponents were there to get hit."

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Sultan has been training rigorously for two weeks at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood under the watchful eyes of Joven Jimenez, who is also the chief trainer of International Boxing Federation super flyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas.

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"I'm ready to fight him anytime," said Sultan referring to the undefeated Puerto Rican. "This is part of my dream." A title fight is waiting for Sultan as promised by his promoter Brendan Gibbons, son of MP Promotions president Sean Gibbons, if he snatched an impressive win over Caraballo.

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"That is really our target if I do well," said Sultan aiming for a title shot. He has been sparring with different partners, including outstanding amateur boxer John Scrappy.

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Also Jerwin Ancajas, who defeated Sultan by unanimous decision for the IBF superflyweight title on May 26, 2018 at the Savemart Center, Fresno, U.S., has been acting as sparring partner. They have since become close friends.

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Jimenez said Sultan (17-5, 11 KOs), the pride of Tampilisan, Zamboanga del Norte has almost reached his peak and they are watching his practices now so as not to overtrain.

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"He is good to go," said Jimenez describing Sultan. "But he would not do it in a hurry. He'll have to find his rhythm and right timing before bringing the fight to Caraballo."

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Sultan's record may not be as impressive as that of Caraballo, but he defeated Johnriel Casimero, the current World Boxing Organization bantamweight champion, by unanimous decision on September 16, 2017 at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino, Cebu City.

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After Sultan beat Casimero he won the prerogative to challenge Ancajas, who now plays as Sultan's main sparring partner and primary backer as they are both training under Joven Jimenez at Wild Card Boxing Club.

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Sultan has almost reached his peak form and is so far engaged in the tapering stage of his practices in what could be a huge performance in his second fight in the United States,

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Caraballo is foreseen as the next boxing big name in Puerto Rico. But the go-getter fighter is not thinking far beyond yet and is now concentrating on his pivotal match with the Filipino.

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“I am thankful for the opportunity that my promoter, Miguel Cotto Promotions, is giving me together with Top Rank to fight at Madison Square Garden,” Caraballo was quoted by Inquirer Sports.

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“I will take this opportunity to look great and continue to make noise at 118 pounds as I aspire to win a world title. Sultan is a strong, experienced opponent. I know he has fought the big names, but I am working hard with my team to show I am a force to be reckoned with.”

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“Carlos Caraballo has all the makings of the next Puerto Rican superstar. Not many bantamweights can punch like this kid, but Sultan is far from a pushover," said Top Rank CEO Bob Arum.

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The 25-year-old Caraballo is promoted by fellow Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto, and he knocked out Mexican Leonardo Baes in the fourth round on March 25 in his last ring engagement.

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Sultan has already five career losses but has never been stopped. He won three of his last four fights since losing to Ancajas for the IBF super flyweight title. He lost to South African Athenkosi Dumezweni by unanimous decision in East London, South Africa for the vacant WBC Silver superflyweight title.

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He last fought Sharone Carter at the Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, California, whom he stopped in the seventh round on August 14 in the John Riel Casimero vs. Guillermo Rigondeaux undercard.

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Sultan and Caraballo will square off in the ring on October 30 at Madison Square Garden in New York in a 10-round bantamweight fight as undercard of a Top Rank headliner whose main event is a junior welterweight bout between Jose Zepeda and Josue Vargas.

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“Carlos Caraballo has all the makings of the next Puerto Rican superstar. Not many bantamweights can punch like this kid, but Sultan is far from a pushover,” said Top Rank chief Bob Arum.

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Mikey Garcia vs. Sandor Martin Compubox stats
Total Punches
Garcia 60 of 318 (18.9%)
Martin 75 of 231 (32.5%)
Total Jabs
Garcia 22 of 170 (12.9%)
Martin 23 of 120 (19.2%)
Power Punches
Garcia 38 of 148 (25.7%)
Martin 52 of 111 (46.8%)

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Judges' Scorecards
Carla Caiz of California, 93-97 for Martin
Fernando Villarreal of California, 93-97 for Martin
Zachary Young of California, 95-95 Draw

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Underdog Jonathan “Bomba” Gonzalez (25-3-1, 14 KOs) dethroned WBO light flyweight champion Elwin Soto (19-2, 13 KOs) by a twelve round split decision in the Garcia-Martin co-feature at the Chukchansi Park in Fresno, California. Scores were 116-112 and 116-112 for Gonzalez, 116-112 for Soto.

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Top Ten highest paid NBA players per Forbes:
1. LeBron James ($111.2 million)
2. Stephen Curry ($92.8 million)
3. Kevin Durant ($87.9 million)
4. Giannis Antetokounmpo ($80.3 million)
5. Russell Westbrook ($74.2 million)
6. James Harden ($62.3 million)
7. Damian Lillard ($56.3 million)
8. Klay Thompson ($54 million)
9. Paul George ($47.8 million)
10. Jimmy Butler ($47 million)

* * *

TNT grabbed the last finals slot in the 2021 PBA Philippine Cup after defeating San Miguel in Game Seven of their semifinal series, 97-79, at the Don Honorio Ventura State University gym in Bacolor, Pampanga. Tropang Giga earned a return trip to the finals where they will face Magnolia in a best-of-seven finals.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.

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