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Boxing: Why Jonas Sultan savors being the underdog

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Dennis Gasgonia, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Jonas Sultan  Dennis Gasgonia, ABS-CBN News" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/life/11/27/20211127-jonas-sultan.jpg"/><figcaption>Jonas Sultan holding his WBO intercontinental bantamweight crown. <em>Dennis Gasgonia, ABS-CBN News</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>Newly crowned WBO intercontinental bantamweight champion Jonas Sultan has no problem playing the underdog&#x27;s role whenever he fights.</p><p>In fact, the Filipino fighter relishes it, especially if he gets the chance to tangle with Japanese boxing star Naoya Inoue.</p><p>&quot;Pangarap ko talaga si Inoue, kahit sabihin na underdog ako.<br/>Kasi kapag underdog ka mas pressured sila. Walang pressure sa akin,&quot; Sultan said.</p><p>He proved his point when he pulled off an upset against rising Puerto Rican knockout artist Carlos Caraballo last month.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/10/31/21/jonas-sultan-hands-caraballo-first-loss-in-thriller">Jonas Sultan hands Caraballo first loss in thriller</a></li></ul><p>Sultan came out charging like a bull, knocking down Caraballo 4 times en route to a decision win.</p><p>&quot;Sabi nila hindi ako mananalo kasi sobrang galing niya. Sabi ko sa sarili ko kaya ko ito, may paraan para manalo,&quot; he said.</p><p>If he gets the opportunity to meet Inoue in the ring, Sultan said he and his team will surely devise a strategy to surprise the hard-hitting Japanese.</p><p>&quot;Kailangan lang masaktan ang kalaban mo. ’Wag tayong matakot. ’Yan kasi ang pinapangarap ng bawat boxer, maging world champion,&quot; he said.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/11/06/21/boxing-jonas-sultan-wants-big-time-fight-vs-inoue">Boxing: Jonas Sultan wants big-time fight vs Inoue</a></li></ul><p>&quot;Kailangan talaga think positive, ’wag kang aayaw. Face your fears.&quot;</p><p>His handler-manager, Rolando &quot;Junie&quot; Navarro, said this was precisely the reason they signed up Sultan.</p><p>&quot;Naalala ko ’yung tinalo niya si (John Riel) Casimero . . . So sabi ko why not give him a chance? Matapang siya, kahit sino ang kalaban,&quot; said Navarro, who also owns the Zamboanga Valientes basketball team.</p><p>With the right training, Sultan has become a more dangerous fighter. In his US debut, Sultan demolished Sharone Carter in 7 rounds. This was followed up with the surprise victory against Caraballo that resulted to his WBO intercontinental title win.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/11/09/21/sultan-credits-sparring-with-ancajas-for-his-victory">Sultan credits sparring with Ancajas for his victory</a></li></ul><p>&quot;Nag-start kami like 2 years ago. Maganda ang samahan namin kasi ngayon 2-0 na kami,&quot; said Navarro. </p><p>&quot;Dati maraming coaches nagsabi that time bakit ko ipinirma si Jonas? Ngayon sabi nila tamang ipinirma n&#x27;yo si Jonas.&quot;</p><p>Sultan is scheduled to fly to the US on December 6.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1843658" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

The newly crowned WBO intercontinental bantamweight champion from the Philippines has no problem playing the underdog's role whenever he fights.

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Boxing: Why Jonas Sultan savors being the underdog

Dennis Gasgonia,

ABS-CBN News

Published Nov 27, 2021 11:46 PM PHT

Read More:

Jonas Sultan

Carlos Caraballo

Junie Navarro

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