SULTAN BEATS CASIMERO TO EARN IBF NO. 1 RANK

JONAS “Zorro” Sultan defeated fellow Filipino fighter and no. 3 ranked John Riel “Quadro Alas” Casimero by a unanimous decision to become the No. 1 contender of the International Boxing Federation (IBF) super flyweight contender on Saturday night at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino in Cebu City.
Sultan landed more telling blows to earn the nods of the three judges – Glenn Trowbridge (116-112), Takeo Harada (117-111) and Carl Zappia (115-113).
Sultan (14-3-0, 9 KOs), previously ranked no. 8 will now be the No. 1 rated contender of current IBF world super flyweight champion Jerwin “Pretty Boy” Ancajas, another Filipino fighter from Panabo City.
Sultan, who is the current IBF Inter-Continental super flyweight champion, however, will still have to wait from the outcome of Ancajas’ reported next fight with WBO world super flyweight title-holder Naoya “Monster” Inoue on December 30 in Japan.
Ancajas (27W-1L-1D, 18 KOs) previously scored a 7th round technical knockout win against Japanese challenger Teiru Kinoshita in his mandatory defense last July 2 in Brisbane, Australia.
Ancajas is not due to make a mandatory until nine months (April 2018).
Sultan won the IBF Inter-Continental super flyweight title via an 8th round knockout against for WBC world flyweight champion Sonny Boy Jaro last May 7 in Angono, Rizal.
Meanwhile, WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight champion Arthur “King” Villanueva stopped Richie Mepranum in the 4th round to improve his record to 31 wins with 17 knockouts against two losses.
Mepranum dropped to 31W-7L-1 record. It was Mepranum’s third straight setback since he earlier bowed to WBC world super flyweight champion Carlos Cuadras by an 8th round retirement last year in Los Mochis, Mexico.
Mepranum last won by a 6th round TKO on Marjhun Tabamo to win the vacant World Boxing Union super flyweight title in 2015 at his own hometown in Maasim Municipal gym in Sarangani Province.