FRESNO, Calif.?For Edito Villamor, Jerwin Ancajas? more vast pro experience over Jonas Sultan will hardly be a factor when they dispute the International Boxing Federation super flyweight crown here on Saturday (Sunday in Manila).
Sultan?s trainer cites Vasyl Lomachenko as prime example.
The Ukrainian fighter, of course, is already regarded as the world?s best pound-for-pound fighter after just 12 pro fights and 3 world titles, the last as World Boxing Organization lightweight champion after knocking out Venezuelan Jorge Linares on March 26 at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Credit Lomachenko?s resurgence to his legendary amateur career, compiling a 396-1 record and becoming an unprecedented two-time Olympic (2008 Beijing and 2012 London) and two-time world champion (2009, 2011).
Villamor was reacting to insinuations by ring analysts that Ancajas, with his 29-1-1, 20 knockouts record, is likely to beat Sultan (14-3, 9 KOs).
?I don?t think so,? said Villamor. ?It will still depend on the fighter. No matter how extensive the experience is, it will not be decisive.?
To level things up, however, Villamor is making sure that Sultan will be in optimum form when the first all-Filipino title duel in 93 years is held at Save Mart Center.
?We?re ready,? said Villamor, who believes Ancajas is vulnerable to a pressure fighter such as Sultan, who packs power.
Reminded that Ancajas knocked out his first 4 title challengers, Villamor retorted that the pride of Panabo City and adopted son of Magallanes town, Cavite, took a longer time disposing of his opponents than Sultan, who has downed 4 of his last 5 opponents.
Villamor added that Sultan will be the aggressor throughout their bout so as to remove Ancajas out of his comfort zone.
?He (Sultan) is very prepared, is the hungrier fighter, and maybe the stronger puncher,? said Villamor, who is being assisted by his brother, Edmond, in whipping the Cebu-based standout of ALA Boing into a mean fighting machine.
Joining Edito at Sultan?s corner on Saturday are Edmond, strength and conditioning expert Nick Curson, and cutman Ed dela Vega.
?We?re happy that we?re here to try to topple Ancajas and be part of history. Win or lose, we?ll be happy. Either way, the Philippines will emerge victorious,? Edito said.
