ALA Promotions’ Jonas “Zorro” Sultan (13-3, 9KOs) made a successful title defense of his IBF Inter-Continental Super Flyweight belt after securing an eighth round stoppage of former world titleholder Sonny Boy Jaro (43-14-5) at the Angono Municipal Gym on Sunday evening.
It was a match-up of two contrasting styles, which perfectly fit the main event billing.
Both men figured in a back-and-forth slugfest from the get-go, much to the delight of the crowd. The 25-year-old champion showed his quick hands early in the fight, landing stiff combinations to his challenger. But Rizal’s own Jaro would not be denied, as he used his vast wealth of experience to fire his offense.
The bout remained close despite a number breaks. A shot to the groin to Sultan in the third and an inadvertent headbutt which resulted to a cut on the forehead of Jaro sued for time in the contest.
Zorro was able to stun Jaro in the fifth with an uppercut that was followed up by a flurry of punches that sent the former WBC World Flyweight champion to the ropes. But with his fellow Rizaleños cheering him on, Jaro came back with the bodyshots of his own that hurt Sultan.
It proved to be his last stand, as Sultan connected a counter left hook that was followed up by a barrage of punches that almost sent Jaro out of the ring. It forced veteran referee Bruce McTavish to end the fight at the 2:07 mark of the eighth round.
“Nahirapan din ako ng konti, magaling din siya pero alam ko na mas mataas yung capacity ko na manalo sa kanya,” he told Tiebreaker Times following his ninth career stoppage win.
“Sabi ko sa sarili ko, ‘kakayanin ko ito’ dahil kapag natalo ako, wala na yung career ko,” added Sultan, who had waited for two months for this fight. “Sobrang importante talaga ito para sakin para makaharap ko yung ibang matataas na boxer.”
In the supporting main event, Jon Jon Estrada (10-3-1) needed five rounds to defeat late-replacement Brian Lobitaña. Japanese boxer Kyota Otsuka (6-2-1) stopped Arnel Caotoy (6-6-1) in an entertaining slugfest.
Paypa, Sonsona absorb defeats in Russia
Over the weekend in Russia, Jimmy Paypa (19-5-1) and Eden Sonsona (36-7-2) failed to get a win as they absorbed defeats to Shavkat Rakhimov (10-0) and Evgeny Chuprakov (18-0), respectively.
Both men tried to put up a gallant stands, but eventually succumbed their foes. Paypa went down on the sixth round, while Sonsona was finished in the fifth.
