Philippines, 19 Dec 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


WHY ANCAJAS IS NOT IN SUPERFLY 2 ON HBO AND OPTS FOR TOP RANK ON ESPN


PhilBoxing.com




IBF world champion Jerwin "Pretty Boy" Ancajas had his dream fulfilled when he trained at the world famous Wild Card Boxing Gym, where his idol and now his co-promoter Manny Pacquiao trained for several years and became the world's top fighter pound-for-pound. Ancajas (26-1-1, 18 KOs) prepares for his fourth defense of his International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior bantamweight world title against contender Israel Gonzalez (20-1, 8 KOs), of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico this Saturday, February 3 (Sunday Manila time) at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas.

* * *

?I am here! My dream just came true. At last, I am at the Wild Card Boxing Club,? said Ancajas who was do elated when he arrived at the gym where he glanced at the several memorabilia of the world's only fighting senator. The Ancajas - Gonzalez world championship fight will be the co-main event to the Gilberto "Zurdo" Ramirez -Habib "Wild Hurricane" Ahmed World Boxing Organization (WBO) super middleweight world title showdown.

* * *

?Israel Gonzalez holds his gloves high and is very good defensively. I will have to figure him out in Corpus Christi next Saturday night on ESPN,? said Ancajas. Top Rank CEO Bob Arum said, ?Jerwin is an action fighter who has Knockout power. I am anxious to see him perform in front of the fans at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi and those that will be watching on ESPN.?

* * *

Ancajas will battle Gonzalez and it will be the Filipino champ's first fight of a new multi-fight deal signed with Top Rank. The decision will not enable Ancajas to join in the "SuperFly" fights on HBO. Sean Gibbons, a representative of Joven Sports which handles Ancajas, clarified to BoxingScene.com : "The reasoning behind it is Jerwin's a work in progress and he has a little more development in him and that thing they just want to toss you in with everybody. This way we can do it but at our speed, our pace and who's the best promoter in the world for Filipinos? Bob Arum."

* * *

The veteran promoter called a media conference at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, California to discuss about Ancajas. "We've got a whole country, we've got a lot of things that add up differently than some of these guys that want to jump into the SuperFly," continued Gibbons. Superfly 2 is scheduled on February 24 at the Forum in Inglewood, California and it headlines the WBC superflyweight champion Srisaket Sor Rungvisai facing Juan Francisco Estrada.

* * *

Gibbons said that they have to do the fight againt Gonzalez and then they have to do the mandatory defense against Jonas Sultan and then pick another fight. "Bob has a tremendous series at ESPN right now and the visibility and the viewership," added Gibbons. He then pinpointed another aspect of the deal that lured them. "ESPN TV5 just started in the Philippines and we're going live to the Philippines. It's about raising his visibility in the Philippines."

* * *

New WBA "regular" welterweight champion Lucas Matthysse (39-4, 36 KOs) arrived Argentina with hordes of fans meeting him at the airport, to take photos with the boxer titlist. Last Saturday, Matthysse stopped the previously undefeated Tewa Kiram (37-1, 27 KOs) of Thailand in eighth round to seize the vacant title at The Forum in Los Angeles.

"I am very happy, I had been able to win an interim title, and now with this world title, my dream has came true. It's been many years of sacrifice, I started boxing at eleven and I'm already 35," Matthysse said. He became interim champion on September 8, 2012 when he stopped Olusegun Ajose in Las Vegas for the World Boxing Council (WBC) super lightweight title.

* * *

New WBA "regular" welterweight champion Lucas Matthysse (39-4, 36 KOs) arrived Argentina with hordes of fans meeting him at the airport, to take photos with the boxer titlist. Last Saturday, Matthysse stopped the previously undefeated Tewa Kiram (37-1, 27 KOs) of Thailand in eighth round to seize the vacant title at The Forum in Los Angeles.

"I am very happy, I had been able to win an interim title, and now with this world title, my dream has came true. It's been many years of sacrifice, I started boxing at eleven and I'm already 35," Matthysse said. He became interim champion on September 8, 2012 when he stopped Olusegun Ajose in Las Vegas for the World Boxing Council (WBC) super lightweight title.

* * *

Matthysse also stressed that he wants to fight eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao or a rematch with two-division world champion Danny Garcia. "I always want to fight with the best. I've already said that I would like to do it again with Danny Garcia or a fight with Manny Pacquiao, and I hope that one of those fights will happen," Matthysse said.

* * *

During his amateur boxing career, Matthysse fought in the 2003 Pan American Games at Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, where he stopped Colombia's Breidis Prescott in just the first round. Lucas has faced Marcos Maidana four times in the amateurs with Maidana winning three times while the fourth resulted to a draw.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua: The Jig Is Up
    By Chris Carlson, , Fri, 19 Dec 2025
  • January 31: Rohan Polanco-Christian Gomez Confirmed as Co-Feature to Xander Zayas-Abass Baraou Title Unification Showdown at Coliseo de Puerto Rico in San Juan
    , Fri, 19 Dec 2025
  • Jake Paul, Anthony Joshua Tip the Scales Ahead of Netflix Heavyweight Spectacle in Miami
    By Dong Secuya, , Fri, 19 Dec 2025
  • Suelo rules Thailand chess tourney
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 19 Dec 2025
  • RICHARDS AND AZEEZ SET FOR HISTORIC SHOWDOWN AS SOUTH LONDON LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS FACE-OFF AT PRESS CONFERENCE IN GHANA
    , Fri, 19 Dec 2025
  • Brooklyn’s undefeated Pryce Taylor Called one of top heavyweight prospects in U.S.
    , Fri, 19 Dec 2025
  • INDIGO FIGHT NIGHT RESULTS AS GIORGIO VISOLI OVERCOMES TOUGH JOE HOWARTH – AND TIAH-MAI AYTON WINS AGAIN
    , Thu, 18 Dec 2025
  • Weights From ProBoxTV’s ‘Merry Fistmas’ at War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale, Tomorrow Night at 7 pm ET
    , Thu, 18 Dec 2025
  • Undefeated Jose Tito Sanchez Returns to Face Jesus Ramirez Rubio in Super Bantamweight Main Event on Friday
    , Thu, 18 Dec 2025
  • Three boxers aim for finals
    By Joaquin Henson, , Wed, 17 Dec 2025
  • BOOM! Terence Crawford Stuns the World with Retirement at 42-0
    By Dong Secuya, , Wed, 17 Dec 2025
  • Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua: The Biggest “Crossroads” Fight Ever!
    By Ralph Rimpell, , Wed, 17 Dec 2025
  • Donaire ready for Tsutsumi
    By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 16 Dec 2025
  • INDIGO FIGHT NIGHT: WEIGH-IN RESULTS AND RUNNING ORDER CONFIRMED AS CONNOR MITCHELL GETS READY FOR HIS PRO DEBUT
    , Tue, 16 Dec 2025
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION DECEMBER 15 DECEMBER 2025: Gassiev KO Pulev in 6; Mikaeljan Beats Jack for WBC Cruiser Title; Pacheco Outpoints Sadjo
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 16 Dec 2025
  • Sumalinog, Castanol rule Senior, PWD fun run
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 16 Dec 2025
  • Vargas urges boxers to defy odds
    By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 16 Dec 2025
  • GIORGIO VISIOLI SETS OUT MISSION TO LAND MAJOR TITLES AFTER TENSE FIRST FACE-OFF WITH ENGLISH TITLE RIVAL JOE HOWARTH
    , Tue, 16 Dec 2025
  • Kevin Brown and Yoenis Tellez Shine at Boxlab Promotions’ “Night of Champions XIII” During the 104th Annual WBA Convention
    , Tue, 16 Dec 2025
  • TRAINING CAMP NOTES: Justin Cardona Shares Insights Ahead of December 19 Showdown Against Avious Griffin
    , Tue, 16 Dec 2025
  • JAS MATHUR JOINS MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS AS CEO TO LEAD STRATEGIC VISION, CREATIVITY AND GLOBAL GROWTH INITIATIVES
    , Tue, 16 Dec 2025
  • Split-T Management Signs Amateur Standout Adrian Salazar
    , Tue, 16 Dec 2025
  • INTERNATIONAL BOXING HALL OF FAME REMEMBERS CANASTOTA’S MANAGER / TRAINER / PROMOTER TONY GRAZIANO
    , Mon, 15 Dec 2025
  • Catubig, Prado win Suy Foods Santa Run
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 15 Dec 2025
  • Junior, Youth and Elite Divisions Awarded on Final Day of 2025 USA Boxing National Championships
    , Mon, 15 Dec 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.