Ancajas dominates Sultan, retains title in all-Pinoy championship bout

MANILA, Philippines – IBF super flyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas showcased his technical prowess against a determined Jonas Sultan to defend his title Sunday in their historic all-Filipino world championship fight at the Save Mart Arena in Fresno, California.

The judges scored the bout 119-109 (twice) and 117-111 all for Ancajas, who was clearly the technically superior fighter. He kept the gritty Sultan at bay throughout the fight with his accuracy and footwork, frustrating his challenger.

Sultan, who had trouble with Ancajas’ speed and timing, was limited to throwing single blows each time the two got into exchanges. His finest moment came in the third round when he connected a powerful overhand right to Ancajas’ head.

But the defending champion barely had trouble with Sultan’s power and stuck to his game plan, which is to throw counters and occasional flurries while moving away from danger.

Despite the heavy hype surrounding the bout, it ended in a lopsided manner in favor of the rising star, who has now defended his crown for the fifth time.

.@JerwinAncajas scored a unanimous decision win over Jonas Sultan to retain his super flyweight championship in the first all-Filipino title bout in 93 years at the @SaveMartCenter in Fresno, Calif. #AncajasSultan pic.twitter.com/1drFu6FVzF

— Manny Pacquiao (@MannyPacquiaoTR) May 27, 2018

Before Ancajas and Sultan step on the ring Sunday, the last all-Filipino championship showdown was on May 2, 1925 — when boxing great Francisco Guilledo, popularly known as “Pancho Villa,” defended his flyweight crown against Clever Sencio in Manila.

With the victory, Ancajas — representing the rising “Survival Camp” in Magallanes, Cavite — improved to 30-1, with 20 KOs. For his part, Sultan — fighting out of the famed ALA stable in Cebu — fell to 14-4, with 9 KOs.