Jonas Sultan eyeing March fight, set to leave for US

Jonas Sultan is victorious as he defeats Carlos Caraballo for the WBO intercontinental bantamweight championship at The Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden on October 30, 2021 in New York City.(Photo by Mikey Williams/Top Rank Inc via Getty Images)

MANILA, Philippines—Filipino pugilist Jonas Sultan looks to continue his impressive form into the New Year as his promoters eye a March fight night for the soaring bantamweight.

Manager Junnie Navarro, who charts Sultan’s career with Australia-based Michael Venezuela of MLV Accounting, and promoter Brendan Gibbons of MP Promotions are now looking for likely opponents for the 30-year-old Cebuano.

Sultan is scheduled to leave for the United States this month to resume training

He (18-5, 11 knockouts) had a strong campaign in his two fights in 2021, knocking out American veteran Sharone Carter in the seventh round in their August eight-rounder at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.

The knockout artist then closed his year with a unanimous decision win over Puerto Rico’s Carlos Garaballo to claim the vacant WBO Intercontinental bantamweight title at Madison Square Garden.

His strong run in 2021 pushed his winning streak to three fights, effectively shaking off his 2019 unanimous decision loss to South Africa’s Athenkosi Dumezweni.

Part of his success was due to working with IBF super flyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas, a man who beat him in 2018, and trainer Joven Jimenez.

Sultan said he’s grateful to work with the tandem and his next goal is to win a World title at 118 pounds to repay the trust that Ancajas and Jimenez gave him.