By Lynde Salgados
Correspondent
PROUD Zamboangeños around the country are confident the resurgent prizefighter Jonas Sultan will sustain the City of Flowers’ winning ways in the international arena as he climbs the ring this morning at 10 am, October 31, opposite the unbeaten Puerto Rican Carlos Caraballo.
To be staged at the Hulu Theatre in Madison Square Garden, the bantamweight 10-rounder will be aired on ESPN+, to which another impressive win will give the Filipino an extra push to be back as a world title contender again.
The 29-year-old Sultan is fresh off a 7th round knockout win over rugged American Sharone Carter in August, in his first comeback fight since a two-year layoff.
“Jonas Sultan is a good technical boxer with knockout power that earned him the ‘One Punch Man’ moniker. Given the break, he’s also bound for greatness and we’re excited to cheer for him as proud Zamboangeños,” said Joey Florendo, who along with siblings Paulo and Patrick left their mark in chess in the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) during their college days in Manila.
The more than 100-strong Zamboangeños in Cagayan de Oro, who called their group as “L Zamboangeño Circle” and jointly headed by Bebot Aliñabon, Chito Potenciano, and John Elago, also expressed support to Sultan’s boxing campaign in New York City through former journalist Mike Baños.
“Buena suerte Jonas Sultan! Desde tu Compoblanos del Circulo Zamboangueño de Cagayan de Oro!” said Baños in sending the association’s message to their boxing hero. (Good luck Jonas Sultan. From your fellow town mates from the Circulo Zamboangueno of a Cagayan de Oro).
After weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz won the country’s first-ever gold in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and amateur pugilist Eumir Marcial, who just married his longtime girlfriend Princess Galarpe on Oct. 28 in Batangas, brought home a bronze, the veteran writer Baños said Sultan could be the next best athlete to continue Zamboanga’s winning tradition.
Former Olympian Roberto ‘Bobby’ Jalnaiz, who is now in the US, said the Filipino fans could expect a better version against the Puerto Rican as he remained in the United States for non-stop training at the Wild Card gym since his knockout victory over Carter.
While Caraballo is undefeated in 14 bouts, Jalnaiz said flexing muscles with Filipino greats Mark Magsayo, Johnriel Casimero, and Jerwin Ancajas at the Wild Card gym under the same Manny Pacquiao (MP) Promotions would make Sultan a dangerous opponent.
Sultan’s ring record of 17 wins including 11 knockouts against 5 losses may not be as convincing compared to Caraballo who knocked out all his previous 14 opponents.
But in 2017, the pride of Tampilisan, Zamboanga del Norte Sultan bested World Boxing Organization bantamweight champion Casimero in a super flyweight eliminator, before he yielded a decision loss to International Boxing Federation super flyweight king Ancajas the following year.
In his Facebook Page, Sultan acknowledged his trainer Jorge Capetillo and the support provided him by MP (Manny Pacquiao) Promotions president Sean Gibbons and son Brendan as well as benefactors Junnie Navarro and Mike Venezuela of Zamboanga Valientes MLV as vital in his comeback bid.
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