FRESNO, Calif.?Sprawled in bed, and clad in a black sports shirt and jogging pants, a smiling Jonas Sultan greeted a pair of Filipino sportswriters at his hotel room here on Tuesday evening.
Resting after undergoing a breezy 40-minute training session at Heartbeat Boxing here, Sultan seemed very happy, talking to somebody on his cell phone, displaying no signs of worry over the coming fight that could change his life forever.
Sultan clicked the video call and it became evident why he was in such a jovial mood.
He was speaking with his wife and his mother, even as his two children were in the background, playing with their cousin back home in Tampilisan, Zamboanga del Norte.
It was a simple joy that eases Sultan?s longing to be with them again as he?d been away for nearly 6 months preparing for his title fight against International Boxing Federation super flyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) at Save Mart Center.
Another form of relaxation for Sultan is strumming the guitar while belting out Filipino songs such as “Bakit Ba?” by Siakol.
After nearly 10 minutes, Sultan put the phone down and answered questions related to the first all-Filipino world title duel to be held in 93 years and the first ever to be held on foreign soil.
Based on his training that lured aspiring amateur fighters late afternoon, Sultan said he?s 100% ready to slug it out with the favored Ancajas, who is billeted at the same hotel.
Sultan, a former streetfighter, swears that he had never trained as long and as hard for a fight as he knows that Ancajas is a highly capable champion.
Apart from countless visits to the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, Sultan also spends time swimming in the pool.
?To strengthen my lungs and legs,? said Sultan, who believes that he is shiftier than Ancajas.
According to Sultan, making weight has never been a problem.
What he does is to reduce drastically in the early stages of preparation and just maintain it.
?I?m 117 pounds now, so it?s very easy to make the limit (115),? said Sultan, who can still eat his favorite chicken adobo, fish, eggs and avocado without fear of gaining weight.
For Tuesday?s supper, trainer Edmond Villamor prepared humba in another room he shares with three-division world champion Donnie ?Ahas? Nietes.
And Sultan can hardly wait for the feast.
