Philippine welterweight king Dondon Sultan of the SGG Stable of Cebu will make his longest trip so far when he vies for the Pan-Asian Boxing Association welterweight title against undefeated Anton Solopov on May 20 in Surgut, Russia.
This was confirmed last Sunday by Sultan’s manager Sammy ‘Don King’ Gello-ani, in an interview in Tagbilaran City.
The Labason, Zamboanga Del Norte fighter Sultan (12-6-2, 6 KO’s) will be making his second attempt at the PABA title, following a failed bid in 2005.
However, Sultan’s task will be definitely cut out for him as he faces a former national amateur standout who is managed by the legendary Kostya Tszyu.
The 24-year-old southpaw Solopov (12-0, 9 KO’s), a permanent resident of Australia, had spent part of his childhood in an area in Russia where Tszyu was raised.
Solopov, who was born in Western Siberia, had a distinguished amateur career, winning 180 of 205 bouts. He had won the lightweight division title at the 1998 games in Argentina. Solopov’s victim in the gold-medal round was Miguel Cotto, the popular World Boxing Organisation junior welterweight champion, who is regarded as the hottest youngster in the sport.
