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    Sultan knocks Caraballo down four times to score major upset

    Jonas Sultan knocks Carlos Caraballo down four times
    Oct 31, 2021
    PHOTO: Mikey Williams / Top Rank

    JONAS Sultan turned the tables on knockout artist Carlos Caraballo, knocking down the Puerto Rican four times to score a major upset in their 10-round bantamweight fight on Saturday in New York (Sunday, Manila time).

    The 29-year-old Filipino was a heavy underdog against Caraballo, a protégé of former world champion Miguel Cotto and winner of his first 14 fights as a pro all by way of knockout, who was looking to add Sultan to his growing list of victims.

    But Sultan proved to be a tough customer for the Puerto Rican, engaging his game opponent in toe-to-toe exchanges and dragging him for 10 full rounds where Caraballo has never been to.

    The outcome had the native of Tampilisan, Zamboanga del Norte winning by unanimous decision on identical scores of 94-93 on all three judges’ scorecards, leaving stunned the pro-Puerto Rican crowd at the Madison Square Garden.

    Jonas SultanJonas Sultan wins by unanimous decision.

    “This is boxing. This is war. And I came to win tonight,” said Sultan, who was beside trainer Joven Jimenez and MP Promotions President Sean Gibbons during the post-fight interview. “Caraballo is a tough man, but I wanted this one.”

    Sultan improved to 18-5 (11 KOs) and obviously lined himself up as a threat in bantamweight, a division where two Filipinos in Nonito Donaire Jr. and Johnriel Casimero currently reign as world champion. Casimero incidentally, lost to Sultan in their title eliminator fight in 2017.

    Caraballo served as Sultan’s biggest challenge in his comeback foray after losing to friend Jerwin Ancajas in their IBF super-flyweight title match in 2018, and was hardly given second notice being a 5-1 underdog against a rising prospect who was signed by Top Rank to a multi-year contract just days before the fight.

    But Sultan showed he's a legitimate contender and not just a stepping stone for Caraballo.

    The Filipino introduced himself to Caraballo by greeting him with a right hand in the second round to send the Puerto Rican down on the canvas for the first time.

    Again Sultan had Caraballo down early in round three, although the Puerto Rican returned the compliment later on when he connected a left that put the Filipino out of balance. Although Sultan didn’t go down, one of his gloves touched the canvas, prompting referee Johnny Callas to rule a knock down.

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    That appeared to have given Caraballo a second wind as he pounded Sultan in the next two rounds to finally take control. Halfway into the fight, the score was even on two judges at 47-47, while the other had the Puerto Rican ahead, 48-46.

    Sultan however, was undaunted.

    The Filipino again reversed the tide in his favor by putting Caraballo on the seat of his pants in the sixth round, courtesy of another right.

    And just when the Puerto Rican rallied back late in the in the fight, Sultan silenced Caraballo with a flush left hook in the ninth to put him down for the fourth time.

    Still, he left nothing to chance.

    “Hindi pa rin ako nagkumpiyansa kahit napabagsak ko siya,” Sultan related later to SPIN.ph, aware Caraballo is a newly-signed fighter of Top Rank, which is promoting the fight.

    “Kaya nung 10th round, pinilit ko na yon kasi kailangan kunin ko yung last round,” added the Filipino, who is co-managed by Junnie Navarro and supported by NorthPort team owner Mikee Romero.

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    Sultan, who claimed the WBO Intercontinental bantamweight title, landed 28 percent of his punches (85-of-302), while Caraballo was a lot more accurate at 45 percent (95-of-213).

    Caraballo suffered his first defeat for a 14-1 record.

    Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph

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    PHOTO: Mikey Williams / Top Rank
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