Sultan guns for OPBF crown in Japan today

Philippine welterweight champion Dondon "Supremo" Sultan of SGG Stable hopes he will be successful in his second shot at glory abroad as he challenges reigning champion Kazuhiko Hidaka of Japan for the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation 147 pounds crown today at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan.

The 26-year-old Sultan once vied for the OPBF title, but fumbled after losing via controversial split decision loss to Japanese Hiroshi Watanabe on September 7, 2003 at the Rainbow Hall in Nagoya.

Sultan, who carries a 9-4-2 win-loss-draw record spiked with 4KOs, previously kept his RP belt by knocking out Ramil Caballes in the 12th round on January 25 this year at the Mandaue City Sports and Cultural Complex.

With the odds stuck against him fighting at enemy lines, Sultan must at least put up an impressive fight so as not to jeopardize his forthcoming crack at the vacant IBO Inter-Continental welterweight title against Australian Chad Benett this September 2 in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.

Sultan, who hails from Labason, Zamboanga del Norte, will be cheered on at his corner by his ever supportive manager Sammy Gello-ani and trainer Edmund Villamor.

The power-hitting Sultan is confident of a victory because he trained and prepared hard for this fight during the past few months where he engaged in a no-holds-barred sparring session with OPBF super featherweight title-holder Randy Suico, lightweight prospect Dexter Delada, WBF super lightweight champion Dindo Castañares and RP jr lightweight titlist Bart Abapo.