FRESNO, Calif.?An honest assessment or sheer coincidence.
Head trainers Joven Jimenez and Edito Villamor cited the same percentages when asked on Thursday about the chances of their respective fighters tangling for the International Boxing Federation super flyweight crown at Save Smart Center here on Saturday.
Both said it was 55-45, the bigger percentage referring to their own fighter’s chance of winning.
?We have the slight edge in experience,? said Jimenez, referring to reigning champion Jerwin Ancajas. ?We can?t be too confident as (Jonas) Sultan is also good, works hard and is in prime condition.?
Villamor offered a different reason: ?Experience would hardly be a factor. Sultan is hungrier (for a title) and is determined to get the crown.?
The 26-year-old Ancajas owns a 29-1-1 record, 20 victories by way of knockout. That?s apart from a sterling amateur career that saw him emerge as national champion twice and Palarong Pambansa titlist once.
Sultan, who turned 27 last December 16, has a 14-3 slate with 9 knockouts. Officially, he only has 14 amateur fights, but was toughened by countless streetfights when he was between 12 and 15 years old in Zamboanga del Norte.
Boxing analysts have installed Ancajas the favorite in the 12-round fight that serves as the main event of a fight card put up by Top Rank Promotions to prop up the southpaw?s climb to stardom.
Edito and his brother, Edmond, who is also a lead trainer of ALA Boxing, however, are eager to put a damper on Bob Arum?s plans.
They know that it?s tough but doable.
