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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.
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