Philippines, 11 Mar 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


It’s destiny for Sultan


PhilBoxing.com



Sultan (R) reacts after his win over Caraballo.
Zamboanga del Norte’s Jonas Sultan was set to fight in the undercard of WBO bantamweight champion JohnRiel Casimero’s title defense against No. 1 contender Paul Butler in Liverpool tonight (tomorrow morning, Manila time) but in a stroke of fate, will now face the Englishman for the interim crown. Casimero was disallowed from fighting for violating a British Boxing Board of Control rule against sauna use to reduce weight and the WBO is now assessing whether or not to strip him of the championship. If the throne is declared vacant, Sultan and Butler will dispute the actual, not interim, title.

“We knew Casimero had difficulty making weight,” said MP Promotions head Sean Gibbons who’s in Liverpool. “So we got Jonas a slot in the undercard, thinking if Casimero isn’t able to fight, maybe he could be the replacement since he’s the No. 4 contender. This was meant to be for Jonas, his destiny. He’s prepared for Butler. (Strength and conditioning coach) Memo (Heredia) got him ready training for months in Las Vegas and Jonas arrived in the UK Tuesday last week, even before Casimero.”

GAB chairman Baham Mitra left Manila for Liverpool last Wednesday and will be at ringside for the fight. “We strongly condemn and discourage the commission of any illegal acts or violation of boxing rules,” he said. “We will summon Casimero and his team to shed light on the issue.”

Sultan, 30, said he’s dedicating the fight to his friend Ali Tazeem who died in a car accident last Sunday. Since landing in the UK, Sultan set up training camp in Birmingham with Tazeem’s father Toheed, a boxing coach known as Dr. Tee. Tazeem, 18, is an amateur standout who recently signed a contract to turn pro. He was a passenger in the car that collided with a bus at an intersection in Wolverhampton.

Yorkshire’s Michael Alexander will be the referee with Spain’s Manuel Palomo and Fernando Laguna and the UK’s Howard Foster the judges. The supervisor will be WBO Europe vice chairman John Handelaar of the UK. Gibbons said as far as he’s concerned, there will be only one judge in the fight and that’s Sultan. Working Sultan’s corner will be Gibbons, son Brendan and Irish cutman Andy O’Neill.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 8 MARCH 2026: Opetaia Outpoints Glanton to Win Inaugural Zuffa Belt; Ricardo Salas, Vlad Panin Register Wins
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 10 Mar 2026
  • Brijhana Epperson and Christian Paez Highlight Day Two of 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup
    , Tue, 10 Mar 2026
  • Beltran, Prado rule Samal Half Marathon
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 10 Mar 2026
  • Meinke-Vargas IBF Featherweight Female World Championship Set for 12 rounds?
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 10 Mar 2026
  • Ruiz and Veloz Earn Dominant Wins on Opening Day of 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup
    , Tue, 10 Mar 2026
  • Top Rank Signs Undefeated Lightweight Prospect Sammy Contreras
    , Tue, 10 Mar 2026
  • 153 swimmers safely complete Davao-Samal-Davao Cross Channel
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 10 Mar 2026
  • Leading World Cruiserweight Contender Ryan ‘The Bruiser’ Rozicki returns from 15-month layoff with another overpowering KO
    , Mon, 09 Mar 2026
  • Roca, Bernardino share top honors in Tea Block rapid chess tournament
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 08 Mar 2026
  • Fastpitch Softball on March 20-22 in Calinan
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 08 Mar 2026
  • Opetaia vs Glanton: Dana White Crowns First Boxing Champion. Is Fight Worthy?
    By Chris Carlson, , Sun, 08 Mar 2026
  • In Thrilling Showdown, Pagara Falls Short Against Polkinghorn by Points.
    , Sun, 08 Mar 2026
  • Unofficial Unification Tournament Brewing For Welterweights
    By Ralph Rimpell, , Sat, 07 Mar 2026
  • Fight Results from Montreal: Steven Butler Obliterates Ramadan Hiseni; Wins by Lenar Perez, Jhon Orobio and Steve Claggett
    By Eric Armit, , Sat, 07 Mar 2026
  • Former Champ Junior Makabu visits WBC offices in Mexico City
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 07 Mar 2026
  • WEIGHTS FROM SYDNEY, NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA
    , Sat, 07 Mar 2026
  • Weights from Atlantic City
    , Sat, 07 Mar 2026
  • PFL Releases Francis Ngannou
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 07 Mar 2026
  • Polkinghorn, Pagara at the Scales in Perth, Australia
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 07 Mar 2026
  • Young Briton Rising Star: Callum Dan's Quest for Boxing Glory
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 07 Mar 2026
  • Chua rules Pattaya Open; pockets $22,500
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 07 Mar 2026
  • All Star Boxing live on ESPN DEPORTES Weights from Nicaragua
    , Fri, 06 Mar 2026
  • Ryan Rozicki’s Return: Presser Quotes from Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada
    , Fri, 06 Mar 2026
  • Undefeated Heavyweight Gustavo “The Cuban Assassin” Trujillo Returns to Headline “Havoc at the Hilton 3” March 7 in Florida
    , Fri, 06 Mar 2026
  • AQ Prime Chess bet Marius Zabanal Constante of Pasig City rules Elementary Division of NCR Palarong Pambansa Standard chess elims
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 06 Mar 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.