Philippines, 21 Jul 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:

  • Suarez, Lewkowicz Ask the WBO to Enforce Navarrete Rematch and Begin Negotiations Immediately
    By Carlos Costa, , Tue, 21 Jul 2026
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 20 JULY 2026: Papot Outpoints Eubank; Pacheco Stops Aleem; Suarez Smokes Avila in One Round
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 21 Jul 2026
  • Fiery Exchange at Fanatics Fest: Garcia and Benn Nearly Brawl in New York Ahead of Sept. 12 Title Clash
    By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Tue, 21 Jul 2026
  • John Michael Zulueta Headlines in Highland Show July 25 in Thailand, LIVE on TrillerTV
    By Carlos Costa, , Tue, 21 Jul 2026
  • Results from Dominican Republic: Alberto Puello Stops Ángel Bolaño in 3
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 21 Jul 2026
  • Matchroom Boxing reveals major fights in UK & Ireland schedule from August to October
    , Tue, 21 Jul 2026
  • Colombia National Congress Awarded "Kid Pambelé" with Grand Cross Knight
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 21 Jul 2026
  • MILO Marathon returns to Davao on August 2
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 21 Jul 2026
  • PHILBOXING.COM WEEKEND ROUNDUP: News, Fallout, and the Long Shadow of Sydney
    By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Tue, 21 Jul 2026
  • Joe Hand Promotions Secures Commercial Rights for Errol Spence Jr. vs. Tim Tszyu Showdown
    , Tue, 21 Jul 2026
  • Grandy Twins Head to Tampa to Learn from Hall of Famers Antonio Tarver and Winky Wright Ahead of August 14 Homecoming Fight
    , Tue, 21 Jul 2026
  • Matchroom Extends Brentwood Town Fc Partnership as Principle Partner for Next Five Years as Barry Hearn Obe Provides Significant Investment to Non-League Football Club
    , Tue, 21 Jul 2026
  • IBA Pro announces departure of Director Al Siesta
    , Mon, 20 Jul 2026
  • Suarez sends strong signal
    By Joaquin Henson, , Mon, 20 Jul 2026
  • THE CORNER SHIFT: Can Ronnie Shields Rebuild Errol Spence Jr. After the Derrick James Fallout?
    By T. Chin-Te, , Mon, 20 Jul 2026
  • Yusniel Abrahante Shocks Undefeated Luis Coria in Dominant Performance Live on ProBox TV
    , Sun, 19 Jul 2026
  • Salamov stops Suarez as Borshchev beats Brito at historic IBA Bare Knuckle US debut
    , Sun, 19 Jul 2026
  • Pichay re-elected NCFP prexy, eyes more GMs
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 19 Jul 2026
  • Olympus Rising by TWC - Amateur MMA Fight on Saturday; live broadcast via Kalaro 3.0 Sports Super-app
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 19 Jul 2026
  • Suarez Obliterates Avila in One-Round Blitz to Capture WBO International Crown (Photos)
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 19 Jul 2026
  • Spence vs Tszyu, The Biggest Crossroad Fight Of 2026!
    By Ralph Rimpell, , Sun, 19 Jul 2026
  • Cebuana Lhuillier-backed Blu Girls Power Past Host Peru, Finish World Cup Campaign on a High Note
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 19 Jul 2026
  • Diego Pacheco and Immanuwel Aleem Tip Scales for Carson Showdown
    , Sat, 18 Jul 2026
  • Weights From ‘Flores vs. Navarro’ and 'Suarez vs Avila' at NOS Events Center in San Bernardino, CA &  Live on ProBoxTV
    , Sat, 18 Jul 2026
  • Tickets on Sale Now for Andy Ruiz Jr. vs. Damian Knyba at Prudential Center, Newark, NJ on Sept 4 – Live on TNT and DAZN
    , Sat, 18 Jul 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.