Philippines, 26 Jun 2026
  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:

  • July 4: Albert Bell Steps In to Challenge Abdullah Mason in All-Ohio WBO Lightweight World Title Showdown at Cleveland State University’s Wolstein Center LIVE on TNT and DAZN
    , Fri, 26 Jun 2026
  • Zamboanga relinquishes her ONE Women’s title
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 26 Jun 2026
  • Top-ranked Charly Suarez facing Manuel Avila, plus two more fights added to July 18 ProBoxTV event
    , Fri, 26 Jun 2026
  • Yanon fights Kaji in Tokyo on July 4
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 26 Jun 2026
  • Preparations underway for 2026 IBA men’s divisional continental championships
    , Fri, 26 Jun 2026
  • Highland Boxing Promotions Presents "Warrior Showdown" in Bangkok on June 27
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 25 Jun 2026
  • Usyk reportedly considering retirement but could face Kabayel before the year ends
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 25 Jun 2026
  • Luke Littler and Ben Whittaker join forces as Matchroom Sport takes over New York City
    , Thu, 25 Jun 2026
  • IOC Announces $10,000 'Fit for the Future' Grant for All Qualifying Olympians, Including Boxers
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 25 Jun 2026
  • Boxers did it first: IBA President welcomes IOC’s decision on allocating funds among athletes
    , Thu, 25 Jun 2026
  • PH national now ready for Asia-Oceania Sambo
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 25 Jun 2026
  • UFC TITLE CHALLENGER IAN MACHADO GARRY JOINS MATCHROOM TALENT AGENCY AS EDDIE HEARN LAUDS 'SUPERSTAR' SIGNING
    , Thu, 25 Jun 2026
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimán: The Fathers in the boxing world
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Wed, 24 Jun 2026
  • Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan arrive for Asia & Oceania Sambo Tournament
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 24 Jun 2026
  • Mexican Hall of Fame Legend Carlos Zarate undergoes surgery in Mexico
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 24 Jun 2026
  • IM Arca to see action in 28th Asian Youth Chess Championships 2026 in Shenzhen,China
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 24 Jun 2026
  • Lenar Perez to Face Former Two-Time World Title Challenger Thabiso Mchunu, with Fendero-Fondjo as Co-Feature on September 3 in Montreal!
    , Wed, 24 Jun 2026
  • Gustavo Trujillo'S Remarkable Journey Continues as Reigning Bkb Heavyweight Champion Climbs the Pro Boxing Ranks
    , Wed, 24 Jun 2026
  • AMER ABDALLAH APPOINTED ADVISOR TO THE KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN BOXING FEDERATION
    , Wed, 24 Jun 2026
  • Youth Sports Sambo on June 25
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 24 Jun 2026
  • Train for Puma Half Marathon in starts June 24
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 24 Jun 2026
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 22 JUNE 2026
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 23 Jun 2026
  • Team PH reigns in Senior League Softball Asia-Pacific and Middle East Regional Tournament in Indonesia
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 23 Jun 2026
  • ZAYAS AND BOOTS KICK-OFF FIGHT WEEK WITH STORMY FIRST FACE-OFF IN BROOKLYN
    , Tue, 23 Jun 2026
  • Santisima, Apolinar stop foes
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 23 Jun 2026




  •  



     
    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
    © 2026 philboxing.com.