FRESNO, California ? Mandatory challenger Jonas Sultan has taken the role of the underdog.
Sultan swore Tuesday that reigning champion Jerwin Ancajas is the clear favorite in their world title showdown Saturday night at the Save Mart Center even as he added a small footnote to the fight: That the 12-round battle for the International Boxing Federation (IBF) super-flyweight crown will boil down to one thing ? execution of game plan.
?Sa diskarte magkakatalo (strategy will decide the fight),? said Sultan, 26, as he dissected the fight which will mark the first time in almost a hundred years that two Filipinos are facing off in a world title fight.
Sultan maintained Ancajas, 27, has the superior set of skills although he is counting on other factors to negate the southpaw champion?s strengths.
?Binabantayan ang pagkain ko (My diet is being carefully watched),? said Sultan, stressing that while he had been put on a diet program before, the present setup puts more attention to detail.
Just three lbs over the division limit of 115 (lbs), Sultan will receive pointers from brothers Edmond and Edito Villamor when the bell rings. He has also brought along three-division champion Donnie Nietes, known for his ring generalship.
?Magaling talaga si Jerwin pero ginagawa namin ang lahat para manalo (Jerwin is really good but we are doing our best to win),? said Sultan, who earned the right to challenge Ancajas following his upset victory over ex-world champion Johnriel Casimero. ?Also (Jerwin is a) distance fighter so you don?t want to get caught by his straight when you are coming in.?
