| |
|
SULTAN VOWS TO BRING BACK OPBF TITLE
By Salven L. Lagumbay PhilBoxing.com Mon, 18 Jul 2005
RP welter champ Dondon "Supremo" Sultan yesterday vowed he will take home the highly-regarded Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) welter title, saying this is his only ticket to fortune and fame.
"It's going to be now or never. The better man wins," the 26-year-old Sultan told this writer in local dialect during a lull in training at the famed ALA Gym, where he has been sparring against the country's best in preparation for his crack at the title against reigning titlist Kazuhiko Hidaka of Japan on July 21 in Tokyo.
Sultan, a native of Labason, Zamboanga Del Norte, is set to fly out of Cebu to Narita International Airport on Tuesday, July 19, accompanied by manager Sammy Gello-ani and trainer Edmund Villamor. The official weigh-in is set the following day at the Japan Boxing Commission office, just a stone's throw away from the Korakuen Hall, venue of the 12-round war.
To prepare for his titular showdown with Hidaka, Sultan has sparred against OPBF super-featherweight king Randy Suico, WBF junior welter champ Dindo Castanares, and RP junior welter boss Bart Abapo.
"He's in tremendous shape. We are confident of our chances," informed trainer Villamor in a separate interview.
It will be a tough test, however, for Sultan.
The 26-year-old southpaw Hidaka (21-4, 15 KO's) had annexed the title with an upset victory over Filipino Rev Santillan last March 19. He has been on a 6-bout winning spree since moving down from light middleweight to campaign in the 147-lb class.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Salven L. Lagumbay.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Gaballo, Laurente prevail in Gensan By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 01 Sep 2025Paalam leads ABAP team in Liverpool By Joaquin Henson, , Mon, 01 Sep 2025OKC Thunder Favored to Repeat as NBA Champs By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Mon, 01 Sep 2025Pacman sets ‘Thrilla’ commemoration By Joaquin Henson, , Sun, 31 Aug 2025Historic win for Paolo Gallito who edges Lee Van Cortez in the finals of the Efren "Bata" Reyes Yalin 10-Ball Championships By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 31 Aug 2025"The Return" Weights from Detroit , Sun, 31 Aug 2025Efren Reyes Yalin 10-Ball Tourney: Corteza Faces Villafuerte in Finals By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 31 Aug 2025Martha Salazar: Stepping Out of Her Own Shadow By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Sat, 30 Aug 2025Laurente and Marapu Make Weight for IBF Regional Title; Gaballo Fights Tomorrow in Sanman Boxing Show in Gensan , Sat, 30 Aug 2025IM Christian Arca sweeps 10-game simultaneous chess in IIEE SMRC in Davao City By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 30 Aug 2025GOLDEN BOY PRESENTS “I’M SWEET” FEATURING GABRIELA “SWEET POISON” FUNDORA , Sat, 30 Aug 2025Traya, Bactol, De Barbo, Porres in Action in Highland Show in Thailand, live on DAZN By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 30 Aug 2025Bisutti, Panya Make Weight for UBO World Title in Highland Show on DAZN By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 30 Aug 2025Turki Alalshikh the most influential boxing leader in United Kingdom By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 30 Aug 2025Bambam will flight ‘clean & disciplined’ against Requito By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 30 Aug 2025Carlos Flowers Ready to Blossom on the World’s Stage at 2025 World Boxing Championships , Sat, 30 Aug 2025Traya eyes KO win against Thai tomorrow By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 29 Aug 2025Navarrete's Future in Question as He Resists Rematch with Charly Suarez By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Fri, 29 Aug 2025Davao's Corteza beats Biado, Aranas enters round-of-32 in P2 Million Bata Reyes 10 Ball Open By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 29 Aug 2025Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimàn: The Growth of Boxing By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Fri, 29 Aug 2025Toshihiko Era Retains WBF Asia Strap in Thailand By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 29 Aug 2025Boxlab Promotions Signs Rising Cuban Prospects Ronny Alvarez and Pedro Veitia , Fri, 29 Aug 2025Boxing Legend & Hall of Famer Roy Jones Jr. Confirmed for Eighth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Mexican Independence Day Weekend, Saturday September 13, in Las Vegas , Fri, 29 Aug 2025Vayson vies for WBA/WBO titles By Joaquin Henson, , Thu, 28 Aug 2025Mexican "The Rock" Zamora, three-time female world champion with 20 world championship fights, retires By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 28 Aug 2025 |

|
|
|
|
|