Philippines, 16 Jul 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Ancajas waits for foe to step up


PhilBoxing.com




It?s getting more and more difficult for MP Promotions head Sean Gibbons to lock in an opponent for IBF superflyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas? eighth title defense. First, the talk was Australia?s Andrew Moloney would be the next challenger. Then, former WBC superflyweight titlist Carlos Cuadras? name came up. Chile?s Miguel Gonzalez was another option. For some reason, negotiations to put a fight to bed with any of the three fighters fell through.

Gibbons said yesterday he?s now burning the lines to sign up unbeaten Alexandru Marin of Romania. Marin, 27, is trained by coach Bruce Babashan and former three-time WBA middleweight champion William Joppy at the Champion Boxing and Fitness Club in Rockville, Maryland. He has an 18-0 record with 11 KOs and holds the IBF/IBO Intercontinental belt in the 115-pound division.

Gibbons said the plan is to feature Ancajas in a triple world title card in Nevada in October. If WBC superflyweight titlist Juan Francisco Estrada hurdles challenger Dwayne Beamon in Mexico on Saturday, Ancajas will look for a unification duel, assuming he disposes of his next challenger whether it?s Marin or whoever.

?That?s the fight Jerwin wants,? said Gibbons. ?There?s talk that after Estrada beats Beamon, he?ll take on WBA champion Khalid Yafai late this year. If that happens, we?ll wait for the winner and by the first quarter of next year, Jerwin will be up for the biggest fight of his career. A Jerwin fight against Estrada is definitely a pay-per-view event and will bring back the intense boxing rivalry between the Philippines and Mexico.?

Ancajas? trainer and manager Joven Jimenez said it doesn?t matter who?s on the other side of the ring. ?Kaliwa o kanan, OK lang kay Jerwin,? said Jimenez. ?Ready siyang lumaban maski kanino.?

Gibbons and Jimenez were at the Philippine Navy Headquarters on Roxas Boulevard yesterday morning to witness Ancajas? donning rites to formalize his promotion to Senior Chief Petty Officer in the reserve unit. Certifying his new rank was Flag Officer In Command Vice Admiral Robert Empedrad. Ancajas was given full military honors in the presence of his wife Ruth, their three children, friends and his team of sparmates.

Ancajas relocated to the Naval Education and Training Command base in San Antonio, Zambales, to open training camp two weeks ago. He motored to Manila early Sunday morning to attend yesterday?s donning ceremonies then returned to Zambales that afternoon.

Jimenez said Ancajas now walks around at 135 pounds but losing 20 pounds in two months to make the superflyweight limit isn?t a problem. Nutrition and conditioning specialist Jeaneth Aro continues to supervise his diet. Ancajas has started sparring in Zambales, completing eight rounds in two days with Abu Dhabi-based Pakistani superlightweight Usman Wazeer.

Marin captured two Romanian national titles on the way to posting a 150-10 amateur record then moved to Maryland in 2013. He?s known for his ?bulldog fighter mentality.? Babashan described him as ?a boxer-puncher with the ability to hurt and finish a guy but is extremely intelligent with a ring IQ that?s very high as a result of his youth coach in Romania.? Marin said his dream is to fight for a world title. ?I usually take about three or four rounds before getting a knockout,? he said. ?I like body shots, left hooks and right uppercuts.? For sure, Marin will be a test for Ancajas. At No. 3, Marin is the highest-ranked IBF contender since the No. 1 and No. 2 slots are vacant.

Photo: IBF superflyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas with Vice Admiral Robert Empedrad (left) and MP Promotions head Sean Gibbons after donning rites at the Philippine Navy Headquarters yesterday.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.


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.