By NICK GIONGCO
FRESNO, California – The first all-Filipino world title fight in a nearly a century happens Saturday night (Sunday in Manila) with defending champion Jerwin Ancajas heavily-favored to repulse mandatory challenger Jonas Sultan at the Save Mart Center.
Making the fifth defense of the International Boxing Federation (IBF) super-flyweight throne, Ancajas (29-1-1 with 20KOs) enters the scheduled 12-rounder riding on the crest of a fabulous winning streak.
During Friday’s official weighin, Ancajas came in at 114.8 lbs; Sultan tipped in at 114.4 lbs. The division limit is 115 lbs.
Not the type to brag and make predictions, Ancajas stuck to the tried-and-tested template of just being cordial and diplomatic, stressing that it would be much better for his fists to do all the talking.
“We’ll see tomorrow (today),” said Ancajas wth his trademark sheepish smile.
Sultan (14-3 with nine KOs), who will be figuring in his first world title try, believes Ancajas tried to intimidate him during the traditional staredown following the weighin.
But the Cebu-based challenger, who earned the right to face Ancajas after upsetting former world champion Johnriel Casimero, swears he hardly felt the creeps.
“I am not afraid,” he said, sounding upbeat that the title will change hands in dramatic fashion.
Unlike in their previous meetings, the two fighters just looked at each other in the eye, either one batting an eyelash, proof that the intensity is escalating, and that it will reach boiling point when the bell rings.
Ancajas will get pointers from Joven Jimenez with former amateur standouts Roberto Jalnaiz and Delfin Boholst as assistants and Fil-Australian Todd Makelin as cutman.
Sultan will listen to the voices of brothers Edmond and Edito Villamor with Los Angeles-based orthodontist Ed dela Vega as cutman.
Wayne Hedgpeth will be the third man on the ring while the three judges are Jonathan Davis, Daniel Sandoval and Zachery Young, all from California.
Bob Arum’s Top Rank Inc., MP Promotions and Joven Sports are staging the card that will mark the first time in 93 years that two Filipinos are vying for a world title.
In May 1925, Pancho Villa beat Clever Sencio for the world fly crown at Wallace Field (now Luneta).
