Philippines, 27 Apr 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:

  • Eubank Jr. Edges Benn in Thrilling Grudge Match for the Ages
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 27 Apr 2025
  • Due to Illness, H2O Syve Withdraws from Tonight’s Bout
    , Sun, 27 Apr 2025
  • Filipino FM Ivan Travis Cu runner-up in Budapest First Saturday Chess Tournament
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 27 Apr 2025
  • Home Teams Rule the Day
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Sat, 26 Apr 2025
  • Marlon Tapales Makes Weight for WBC International Title Fight in Gensan
    , Sat, 26 Apr 2025
  • WELTERWEIGHT ERIC TUDOR TAKES UNANIMOUS DECISION OVER KEVIN JOHSON IN MAIN EVENT OF ‘LA FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS’ FROM THUNDER STUDIOS AND LIVE ON DAZN
    , Sat, 26 Apr 2025
  • Eubank vs Benn: Like Father Like Son
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 26 Apr 2025
  • Eubank Jr. Misses Weight Ahead of Highly Anticipated Benn Clash
    , Sat, 26 Apr 2025
  • Rafael Espinoza: “I’m Going To Steal The Show On May 4!”
    , Sat, 26 Apr 2025
  • CO-PROMOTER OF TONIGHT'S ‘LA FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS’ SAYS FIRST EVENT IS ONLY THE BEGINNING
    , Sat, 26 Apr 2025
  • “H2O” SYLVE RETURNS AS THE MAIN EVENT AMADO VARGAS AS CO-MAIN IN ACTION PACKED APRIL 26 FIGHT CARD
    , Sat, 26 Apr 2025
  • Gallegos, CPC captures IIEE Western Visayas Regional elimination chess tournament
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 26 Apr 2025
  • A Seat at the Table of Antonio Lopez Aldeguer: A Reminiscence
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Fri, 25 Apr 2025
  • LA Clippers Rout Denver, 117-83 But Detroit, Memphis Fall Short
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Fri, 25 Apr 2025
  • Filipino David Ray Sarmiento finishes 2nd in Germany chess tilt
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 25 Apr 2025
  • Verano stops Sohsit of Thailand in Clash of Nations
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 25 Apr 2025
  • Land of the Rising Star: WBO Welter Champ Brian Norman Jr. Defends Crown June 19 Against Jin Sasaki in Tokyo; Araneta vs Simsri for IBF Title in Co-Feature
    , Fri, 25 Apr 2025
  • Filipino trainer scores big win
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 25 Apr 2025
  • Abalos, Reyes, Manalo to grace billiardfest on May 4
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 25 Apr 2025
  • EUBANK JR VS. BENN + UNDERCARD FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
    , Fri, 25 Apr 2025
  • June 21: Jahi Tucker-Lorenzo Simpson Middleweight Grudge Match Added to Vito Mielnicki Jr.- Kamil Gardzielik Card at Prudential Center LIVE on ESPN+
    , Fri, 25 Apr 2025
  • SALITA PROMOTIONS ADDS TWO MORE ELITE WORLD CHAMPIONS TO STAR-STUDDED ROSTER 
    , Fri, 25 Apr 2025
  • Toro Promotions, Inc. Flexing its Heavyweight Muscles Around the boxing world
    , Fri, 25 Apr 2025
  • Unbeaten pro boxer Anthony Velasquez Building his brand promoting this Saturday’s Main event fight at home in Springfield, Mass.
    , Fri, 25 Apr 2025
  • Disturbing, Eyebrow-Raising Happenings Involving Prominent Filipino Fighters (Part 2)
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Thu, 24 Apr 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.