Philippines, 16 Jul 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Jerwin Ancajas: IBF 115-pound world boxing champion is ready for Thrilla in Little Manila


PhilBoxing.com




Stockton, California: If Top Rank Promotions were to pick an appropriate title for their May 4th boxing extravaganza at the Stockton Arena it should be ?Thrilla in Little Manila?.

A boxing renaissance for a city on the comeback trail deserves a big-time card with a commensurate title such as this.

The late friends Jack Fiske (San Francisco Chronicle) and Hermie Rivera (Philboxing.com) would have been proud of the upcoming best seller.

The following excerpts from their feature article ?Little Brown Dolls: A Gallery of Filipino World Boxing Champs? may have said it best.

The author's interview with Ancajas:




?San Jose, Stockton, Bakersfield, Watsonville, Oakland Sacramento, San Francisco and Modesto became second homes for the itinerant (Filipino) boxing warriors who fought as often as once a week, usually against Mexicans and other groups of impoverished immigrants. Opportunistic promoters were eager to utilize the little men who attracted big crowds of Filipino farm laborers from the California Valley and Delta towns. Saturday night concluded a week of labor in the fields and what better recreation and release than to swarm to the local arena to cheer on a fellow countryman.? (circa 1993)

The co-main event features a deluxe IBF 115-pound championship fight between Filipino Jerwin ?Pretty Boy? Ancajas, the world?s longest-reigning junior-bantamweight champion.

I could be wrong (or right), but it will be the first time two Asian fighters vie for a world crown in this town formerly known as ?Fat City? (sadly the featured venue in Leonard Gardner?s 1969 novel and John Huston?s 1972 neo-noir boxing tragedy film of the same name).

Jerwin Ancajas, of Panabo City (Davao del Norte, Philippines) will be making his seventh title defense as he takes on No. 1 contender Ryuichi Funai of Tokyo, Japan.

For Jerwin Ancajas, the fight bears significant meaning due to Little Manila District?s checkered past.

Said Ancajas, ?It is an honor to fight in front of Filipino-Americans in a place where extreme economic and racial divide is still present and common. I?d like to show them a good fight.?

For his coach, trainer, manager Joven Jimenez the tour they got around town was bittersweet.

Said Jimenez, ?Our kababayans were our guides to the neighborhood museums depicting artifacts of the old farmers and immigrants. Life was so hard back then, but the Filipinos persevered. They were real fighters.?

In the main event, IBF light heavyweight world champion Artur Beterbiev, the only current world champion with a 100 percent knockout ratio, will take his iron fists to California for the second defense of his title. Beterbiev, who recently signed a long-term pact with Top Rank, will face top contender Radivoje ?Hot Rod? Kalajdzic (Top Rank).

It is Cinco de Mayo weekend.

And what better way to get the boxing fans through the turnstiles than feature Stockton?s own rising talent in 18-year-old Stockton Gabriel Flores Jr. who will face off against Eduardo Pereira in a six-rounder.

Beterbiev-Kalajdzic, Ancajas-Funai, and Flores-Pereira will be televised live on ESPN and ESPN Deportes (Spanish) at 10 p.m. Eastern Time/ 7 p.m Pacific Time.

The soon-to-be announced undercard will stream live beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Emmanuel Rivera, RRT.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 14 JULY 2025: Katie Taylor Makes 3-0 Over Amanda Serrano; Baumgardner Defeats Miranda; Stevenson Outclasses Zepeda; Sheeraz Stops Berlanga
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 15 Jul 2025
  • Champion Forever: A Century On, ‘The City By The Bay’ Honors Francisco Guilledo
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Tue, 15 Jul 2025
  • Philippines Shuts Out South Korea, 7-0, in WBSC Women’s Softball Asia Cup
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 15 Jul 2025
  • Manny ready for Barrios
    By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 15 Jul 2025
  • Don King Productions Rejects Jake Paul's Demand for Mikaelian Step-Aside, Citing WBC Ranking Rules
    By Dong Secuya, , Tue, 15 Jul 2025
  • Argentinian former world champion "Locomotora" Oliveras Suffers Stroke
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 15 Jul 2025
  • GM Antonio to compete in Taiwan chessfest
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 15 Jul 2025
  • PACQUIAO-BARRIOS FIGHT WEEK IS HERE
    , Tue, 15 Jul 2025
  • Unbeaten Prospect Alex Bray to Face Lesther Espino July 18, Live on DAZN
    , Tue, 15 Jul 2025
  • Philippine Blu Girls Crush Thailand in Explosive Start to Women’s Softball Asia Cup 2025
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 15 Jul 2025
  • Manny motors to Vegas
    By Joaquin Henson, , Mon, 14 Jul 2025
  • Bakbakan sa Elorde on July 19
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 14 Jul 2025
  • Ringside, Still: Remembering Chino Trinidad
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Sun, 13 Jul 2025
  • Hamzah Sheeraz Demolishes Edgar Berlanga in Stunner, Becomes Mandatory Challenger to Canelo Alvarez
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 13 Jul 2025
  • Shakur Stevenson Masterfully Tames William Zepeda to Retain WBC Lightweight Crown
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 13 Jul 2025
  • JV Tuazon, Ador Torres, Lemuel De Barbo, Jomar Fajardo Score KO Wins in Brico Santig's Highland Show in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 13 Jul 2025
  • Yanon is PBF flyweight champ
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 13 Jul 2025
  • Taylor vs. Serrano Trilogy: Can Amanda Get The Nod?
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 12 Jul 2025
  • BERLANGA-SHEERAZ, STEVENSON-CEPEDA, MORELL-KHATAEV MAKE WEIGHT IN NEW YORK
    By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 12 Jul 2025
  • Johnny Spell Takes on Chancellor Batttenberg on Saturday, July 19th at the Hollywood Casino at the Meadows in Washington, PA
    , Sat, 12 Jul 2025
  • JV Tuazon, Ador Torres, Lemuel De Barbo, Jomar Fajardo Make Weight for Brico Santig's Highland Show in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Philippine Under-12 Girls Team Shines Bright, Clinches Multiple Medals at 23rd ASEAN+ Age Group Chess Championships in Penang
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Kenneth “Llover Boy” Takes on “El Nica” Concepcion Aug 17 on Gerry Peñalosa’s Show @ the Winford Resort and Casino Manila (Analysis)
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Undefeated junior middleweight prospect Anthony Velazquez won’t be Boxing’s best kept secret in 2026
    , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Undefeated Gabriela Tellez Returns July 18 at “Night of Champions” Live on DAZN
    , Fri, 11 Jul 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.