JONAS SULTAN halted Carlos Jose Caraballo’s win streak with a unanimous decision victory on Sunday to capture the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) international bantamweight belt at the Madison Square Garden in New York City.
And in style did Sultan beat the Puerto Rican Caraballo who absorbed his first defeat in 15 fights he highlighted with 14 knockouts.
Fighting with an aching left wisdom tooth and uncomfortable with the way his feet were wrapped, the 29-year-old Sultan scored four knockdowns on the way to 94-93 scores from all three judges in the 10-round bout.
“I fought with a painful and swelling wisdom tooth. And at the same time, I regretted putting a wrap inside my shoes which was not advisable,” Sultan told BusinessMirror. “But tonight is my night. I got everything in control except in my feet, but that’s fine.”
The former world title challenger overcame Caraballo’s tactical stance as he countered and avoided the Puerto Rican’s desperate attacks in the last round.
Sultan unleashed a crisp left hook right on the face of the Puerto Rican in the ninth for his fourth knockdown of the bout.
The Filipino also knocked down the 25-year-old protege of former world champion Miguel Cotto in the second, third and sixth rounds. Sultan improved his win-loss record to 18-5 with 11 knockouts.
“It was so difficult fighting a tactical and technical fighter like Caraballo, but I just focused on hitting him,” said Sultan, coached and trained by Joven Jimenez with International Boxing Federation super flyweight Jerwin Ancajas as his consultant.
Sultan, who is supported by MLV Group of Michael Venezuela, One-Pacman Partylist Rep. Mikee Romero, Zamboanga City sports patron Kings CEO Cory Navarro, entered the ring in a Batman costume with his entourage composed of Jimenez, Ancajas, Junnie Navarro, Sean Gibbons and Brendan Gibbons.
Sultan went to see a dentist in New York City immediately after the fight.