Jonas Sultan Spoils The Party For Rising Prospect Carlos Caraballo
Puerto Rican prospect “Purin” Carlos Caraballo (14-0, 14ko) was on a tear at bantamweight and looked to keep the streak going against former super flyweight title contender Jonas “Zorro” Sultan (17-5, 11ko).
Zorro is a good experienced Filipino fighter, having shared the ring with IBF super flyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas. Furthermore, he holds a win over WBO bantamweight champion John Riel Casimero. Sultan will be risking his number nine WBA ranking going into this fight. Moreover, he will be trying to stop the hype train surrounding the undefeated prospect.
Caraballo is said to be a serious threat in the division. The young Puerto Rican talent is fighting another quality opponent with championship experience. In fact, Caraballo talents landed a spot on the 3kingsboxin.com Prospect Watch. It is the type of fight where a victory could see him move up from prospect to contender.
YOUTH VS EXPERIENCE
The pro-Puerto Rican New York crowd was behind Caraballo, who used his jab and footwork to land the straight left. However, Sultan took advantage of sparring with former foe Ancajas to prepare for the southpaw; and it paid off.
Caraballo was pressing the action coming forward, working the jab and controlling the fight until Sultan landed a short right uppercut that dropped Caraballo in the second round. The young fighter would get back to his feet and ended the round strong.
Sultan dropped the young fighter again in the third round with another short compact right hand. However, Caraballo responded by the end of the round with a straight left that made Sultan’s hands touch the canvas resulting in the referee calling it a knockdown
BOMBS AWAY
As the fight would continue, it became an all-out power-punching display. Caraballo started finding a groove landing power straight lefts and turning his opponent by using good footwork. It looked as if the young fighter was going to take control landing crisp counters until once again, Sultan landed another straight right that sent him to the canvas in the sixth round.
Caraballo adjusted by coming forward using the jab to set up the brutal straight left hands. Sultan was on unstable legs as Purin was attacking with vicious power shots.
EXPERIENCE PREVAILED OVER POWER
Sultan looked as if he was ready to go until he landed a perfect compact left hook of a feint that sent Caraballo to his knees in the ninth round. The Puerto Rican would get up and continue to fight hard until the final bell showing tremendous courage. However, Sultan was not going to be denied and finished the fight strong
When the final bell sounded the crowd cheered in appreciation. All three judges scored it 94-93 for the Filipino fighter despite him scoring a total of four knockdowns. The math with the scorecards did not add up, however, the right man won.
Sultan walks away with his career on an all-new high and the WBO Intercontinental bantamweight title.
By: Garrisson Bland
