It is with great pride to post a feature of two fellow Filipino boxers that will be sharing a boxing ring on the international stage. Jonas Sultan of Zamboanga del Norte, challenges Jerwin Ancajas of Panabo, Davao del Norte on 26 May 2018, Saturday (Sunday morning Manila) at Save Mart Center in Fresno, California for the world super flyweight title.

The last time two Filipinos featured in a boxing match on a world stage was in 1925. A fight featuring boxing great Pancho Villa, birth name, Francisco Villaruel Guilledo of Iloilo City against Inocencio "Clever Sencio" Moldes of Leyte. The fight was held at Wallace field, now called Rizal Park in Manila.

After almost a century, 93 years to be exact, two Filipino boxers will meet in one ring and the boxing world watching. This fight will be written in Philippine boxing history as the first-ever two Filipino boxers fought a world championship match held outside the Philippines. This magnitude of boxing match-up happened most of the time between two world-recognized Mexican boxers but not between two Filipinos.

The fight will be seen live on ESPN+ in the United States and ESPN 5 in the Philippines.

Many Filipinos frowned at the idea of two Filipinos fighting against each other. But it's a great opportunity to showcase Filipino boxing skills and talent at the world stage. It's a win-win for both fighters and the country they represent. Ancajas and Sultan will bring the prize back to their home country. The world championship on the line, whoever wins still remains to a Filipino.

Similar beginnings

Jerwin Ancajas (29-1-1, 20 KOs), and Jonas Sultan (14-3, 9 KOs) both came from the same place I was born and raised, in the southern part of the Philippines, in Mindanao. A place where economic growth and development are hampered by rebellion, unstable law, and order. Opportunities for decent-paying jobs were scarce. Thanks to the current president, whose primary platform in governance is law and order. The Philippine government is on talking terms with all rebel fronts.

Many young from Mindanao look at boxing as their ticket way out of poverty. For Ancajas and Sultan, boxing may not be a choice but sees the sport of boxing as their way out of poverty.

Both men were raised by farmer fathers. Ancajas father worked at a banana plantation in Panabo City. Sultan's father grows corn in Tampilisan, Zamboanga del Norte. Influenced by their respective older brothers about boxing, Ancajas, and Sultan lace a pair of gloves to punch their way out of poverty.

Tale of the tape

During Friday's weigh-in, Jerwin Ancajas hit the scales and came in at 114.8 lbs while Jonas Sultan came in at 114.4. Both fighters were below the 115-pound limit. They look strong, in top shape, brimming with confidence, and ready to go for tonight's showdown.

Ancajas has the height advantage who stands at 5 foot, six inches tall, whereas Sultan stands 5 foot, 4 inches, a two-inch disadvantage. Ancajas fights on a southpaw stance, while Sultan on an orthodox stance.

Boxing records show Ancajas has the experience advantage of having 31 total fights out of which; 29 wins, 20 inside the distance, a draw, and a loss. Sultan has 17 total fights out of which; 14 wins, 9 inside the distance, and 3 losses.

Ancajas also registers 16 consecutive winning streak starting from his lone loss back in 2012.  Whereas Sultan has only five starting from his last loss in 2015. But don't let the records fool you, Sultan's last three fights were all former champions, Makazole Tete, veteran Sonny Boy Jaro, and his last fight he scored a stunning upset against John Riel Casimero. Ancajas last three fights were all stoppages against Teiru Kinoshita, Jamie Conlan, and Israel Gonzalez.

Styles

Ancajas is a methodical, technical fighter with decent power on both hands. He has great footwork, fast hands. He can't be easily lured into a brawl as he looks for better angles, comes in and out pretty quick, and racking points on the scorecards. He's patient in the ring, not rushing things but if he senses the opponent's breaking point, he has the ferocity to finish the job with a knockout.

Sultan is a fighter who finds a way to win. His style is unpredictable, awkward, not easy to read what will be his next move. He's confident, unintimidated even on the opponent's home turf. He finds answers and counters to every type of assault, ask Casimero. But of course, he's the underdog tonight.

Prediction

Since I'm predicting, I'll go for the unpredictable. Jonas Sultan in a razor-thin decision. Why? it's because.

Jerwin Ancajas is the newest boxing champion from the Philippines handing McJoe Arroyo the first defeat of his career via a wide unanimous decision from two judges; 118-109 and 117-110 but close from the other judge; 115-112.

Ancajas (25-1-1, 16 KOs) will take a small share of the price to face McJoe Arroyo (17-1, 8 KOs) for the sake of having a shot of the world title. He will receive a little over 10 percent share of the $25,000.

Ancajas said that money is not important. What's important to him is the championship, and he did win it tonight in front of his home crowd at the Jurado Hall of the Philippine Marine Corp, Barangay Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, in Manila.

The first five rounds were very competitive. But the 6th round was huge for Ancajas. Arroyo was stunned and went down but no knockdown was called by the referee.

Towards the end of round 7, Ancajas hurt Arroyo with a body shot. In round 8, a one-two combination to the body momentarily froze Arroyo. Ancajas followed up to the head that sent Arroyo out from the ring. Arroyo managed to get back inside the ring and the referee took the mandatory count. Arroyo continued but barely survive and was saved by the bell.

In round 9, Arroyo tried to mount a comeback, but Ancajas was able to sustain and connected even more. Ancajas' body punches were very effective.

With the win, Ancajas joins Jhonriel Casimero and Donnie Nietes to the ranks of Filipino world boxing champions.

Ancajas was able to avenge also the loss of then-undefeated compatriot Arthur Villanueva whom Arroyo defeated in 2015 in the US.

 

[caption id="attachment_1561" align="aligncenter" width="570"] Photo: Chris Farina/Top Rank[/caption]

Filipinos went three-out-of-three in Macau.

Filipino pugilists that fought in the under-card for "Ring of Gold" boxing card in Macau all won via highlight-reel type of knockouts. Marvin Sonsona, Harmonito De la Torre and Jerwin Ancajas delivered stunning knockout performances against their respective opponents at the Cotai Arena, Venetian Resort, Macao, China.



Featherweights: Marvin Sonsona TKO-3 Akifumi Shimoda

Marvin Sonsona now improved to 18-1-1 (KO 15) set the icing of the cake, when he knocked out cold former world super bantamweight titlist Akifumi Shimoda of Japan, now dropped his record to 28-4-2, (KO 12) in the second round.

Sonsona was unable to get things to his favor in the first and second round as Shimuda landed the harder shots. He was even hit by a four-punch combo to the body towards the ropes. I had Shimuda winning those two rounds. He has the fight under control.

I thought the fight between two world titles would go to the distance.

However, in the third round, Sonsona was cornered through the ropes and Shimuda was ready to attack. In anticipation, Sonsona fired a jab and followed through a devastating short uppercut that landed right on the spot. That was a thing of beauty. Shimuda's head snapped back and his knees folded, and he fell down to the canvas. Referee Tapdasan immediately halted the fight.

The win is Sonsona's second world title.



Super Flyweights: Jerwin Ancajas TKO-2 Inthanon Sitchamuang

Southpaw Jerwin Ancajas, 23, now improved to 19-1-1 (KO 10), started the knockout streak from the Filipino pugilists. Ancajas was tagged in the first round but immediately retaliate dropping Sitchamuang on the canvas. In the second round Ancajas peppered Sitchamuang with one-two combinations from the southpaw stance. Ancajas wobbled Sitchamuang and finished him off with hard shots to the head. The referee stepped in to stop the fight.

Super Featherweights: Harmonito Dela Torre KO-1 Yakobus Heluka

The intermission dance was far more longer than the opponent of Harmonito to last in their super featherweight battle. Dela Torre finished Heluka with ease early in the first round with another highlight-reel knockout. Dela Torre landed a beautiful right hand that knocked out Heluka.

Three Filipino boxers will be seen in action facing different opponents in Cotai Arena, Venetian Resort, Macao, China on February 22, as part of Top Rank’s Ring of Gold boxing event. Ring of Gold will headline China’s two time Olympic Gold medalist Zou Shiming 3-0-0 (KO 0), pitted against Yokthong Kokietgym 14-3 (KO 10), of Thailand.

Former WBO super flyweight title holder Marvin Sonsona 17-1-1 (KO 14) will face WBA world super bantamweight titlist Akifumi Shimoda 28-3-2, (KO 12) of Japan for the WBO international featherweight title.

Sonsona will try to continue his winning streak after that fourth round KO loss against Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. in an attempt for another world title.

Sonsona captured the WBO super flyweight title in 2009 at age 19. He was the second youngest Filipino boxer that captured world title.

Undefeated super featherweight prospect Harmonito Dela Torre 11-0 KO 6), will be up against Indonesia’s Yakobus Heluka 3-3 (KO 0), for 6-round  super featherweight action. Dela Torre, 19, is Philippine Boxing Federation (PBF) super featherweight titlist.

Bantamweight Jerwin Ancajas 18-1-1 (KO 9) will fight Thailand’s Inthanon Sithchamuang 19-6 (KO 10) in the event’s first bell.