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SULTAN DEPARTS TODAY FOR OPBF CHALLENGE
By Salven L. Lagumbay
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 19 Jul 2005
RP welter champ Dondon Sultan flies out of Cebu today for his July 21 challenge of OPBF welter boss Kazuhiko Hidaka in Tokyo, confident that his long and rigid preparation will offset whatever hometown advantage his foe will have at the famed Korakuen Hall.
The 26-year-old Sultan takes a 7:45AM Philippine Airlines flight for Narita International Airport today accompanied by manager Sammy "Don King" Gello-ani and trainer Edmund Villamor.
When interviewed yesterday at the ALA Gym, Sultan admitted he will be facing a strong southpaw in Hidaka, but said he was not intimidated by it.
"I've faced stronger fighters in the past. I saw the tape of his fight against Rev Santillan and another tape against a Thai fighter. I know what punch to watch out for. I am dedicating this fight to my wife Emily and my two children Jay Boy and Joyce," said the Labason, Zamboanga native in local dialect.
"If it's God's will that I am going to win this crown, then so be it. If it's not for me, then it's all up to the Lord," added the RP champion.
Sultan looked superbly in great shape during his last 4-round sparring session last Thursday against top-ranked lightweight Dexter Delada. His other sparmates during the course of his preparation include OPBF champ Randy Suico, WBF junior welter king Dindo Castanares, RP junior welter champ Bart Abapo, and Japanese Noriharu Iwatani.
"I'm pretty much within the weight limit. Yesterday, I already made weight," Sultan said.
The official weigh-in is set tomorrow at the Japan Boxing Commission office in Tokyo, just a stone's throw away from the fight venue Korakuen Hall.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Salven L. Lagumbay.
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