Jonas Sultan vs Riku Masuda Preview February 24th, 2024
Jonas Sultan of the Philippines heads over to Tokyo, Japan this Saturday, February 24th to take on Riku Masuda of Hiroshima in an eight-round bantamweight contest. Sultan last saw action in September when he beat Frank Gonzalez via an eight-round unanimous decision while Masuda dropped a 10-round unanimous decision to Seiya Tsutsumi in August in a shot at the Japanese Bantam Crown. The fight can be seen live in America starting at approximately 4 am ET.
Sultan vs Masuda Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Riku Masuda +115
- Jonas Sultan -145
My Pick
Sultan is 32 years old and climbs through the ropes with a record of 19-6 with 11 Kos. He turned pro in 2013 and has boxed 179 rounds after a short amateur career which saw him go 8-4. Sultan has won a few regional and minor titles since turning pro which were the Philippines Games & Amusements Board Super Flyweight Title and the IBF Inter-Continental Super Flyweight Title. He stands 5-feet-5-inches tall with a 63.5-inch reach.
Sultan’s got decent power as 58 per cent of his wins have come by stoppage but he’s not really known as a knockout artist by any stretch of the imagination as seven of his last nine contests have gone the distance. He’s already been beaten six times as he dropped a 12-round unanimous decision to Athenkosi Dumezweniat in 2019 in a shot at the vacant WBC Silver Super Flyweight Title and lost a unanimous decision to fellow Filipino Jerwin Ancajas in a shot at his IBF World Super Flyweight Title in 2018.
Before that, he lost at the hands of Go Onaga by a 10-round unanimous decision in 2015, a six-round split decision to Jonathan Francisco in 2014 and a six-round split decision to Rolando Servania in 2013. He also lost a unanimous decision to Paul Butler in April, 2022 in a shot at the interim WBO Bantamweight Title. Sultan owns a solid chin though as he’s never been stopped. His biggest wins have been against former world champions Sonny Boy Jaro and John Riel Casimero, who he beat by a 12-round unanimous decision in 2017.
The 26-year-old Masuda is a southpaw who enters the bout with a mark of 3-1 with 3 Ko’s and has boxed just 19 rounds since making his pro debut in 2022. However, the WBA website lists him as being just 18 years old, which is likely a mistake. Anyway, he measures 5-feet-6-inches tall with a 69.5-inch reach which gives him a one inch height advantage on Sultan as well as six inches in reach.
Masuda is well known as a power puncher early in career as all three of his wins have been by knockout. These came against Worraphon Yothika in 110 seconds in July, 2022; against Jeong Ho An in 145 seconds in December, 2022 and a seventh-round stoppage of Fumya Fuse last May. Masuda was arguably rushed a little by his handlers in his next fight as he challenged for the Japanese Bantamweight Title and lost a close but unanimous 10-round decision to Seiya Tsutsumi in his last outing.
Prediction…
Sultan is a solid pro who looked disappointing against Paul Butler but bounced back with a win over Frank Gonzalez in his last match. Masuda is still learning the ropes as this will be just his fifth pro outing but he’s fighting at home and has good power. He also has the size advantage over Sultan and possesses a solid chin so this should be a relatively close fight that could go either way. I’m expecting Masuda to edge it though, probably by a decision.
Masuda’s reach and aggressive style should be the difference.
Play Masuda +115 @ BetOnline.ag
Check out my recent boxing betting picks to see my current form.
Jonas Sultan betting • Riku Masuda betting