By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Contrary to another report, Dondon Sultan of the Philippines lost his WBF world welterweight title by a ninth round TKO to Hamza Issa of France at Salle Edgard Wuinet, Pas de Calais in France.
A sketchy report on the WBF website said Sultan lost while boxrec.com erroneously reported that he had won.
Well known boxing promoter and manager Sammy Gello-ani told Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today “I can confirm that Sultan lost.” He said the champion had Issa in trouble in the fifth round but couldn’t put him away. Issa apparently recovered and fought back and when Sultan stopped punching in the ninth round referee Alfred Asaro called a halt and awarded the fight and the WBF belt to the hometown fighter.
Gello-ani said there were no knockdowns in the fight.
With the loss Sultan who won the title by a unanimous twelve round decision over Australia’s Eddie “Psycho” Delic in Singapore last November 25, dropped to 16-7-2 with 8 knockouts.
Issa, the WBF Intercontinental Champion who won the crown with a unanimous decision over George Ungiadze last March 30 improved to 12-6-4 with 5 KO’s. It was Issa’s eighth straight win and was well-received by the hometown fans since he is from Calais.
Sultan created a stir last year when he stunned undefeated Russian hopeful Anton Solopov to score a first round KO on May 20, 2006 in Russia but dropped a somewhat controversial ten round points decision on September 15, 2006 also in Russia.