Philippines, 26 Jun 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Top Rank Pursuing Unification Between Ancajas and Franco


PhilBoxing.com




It has been reported that Top Rank's Bob Arum is working a deal with the Golden Boy Promotions for a possible unification bout involving IBF super flyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas and newly crowned WBA regular titlist Joshua Franco when big time boxing returns in the US this September or October.

This means that the ninth title defense of Jerwin originally set last May but cancelled due to the pandemic lockdown is officially no longer in Arum's agenda and that Arum is set to finally ramp up Ancajas career and championship profile by pitting him in a unification against Franco.

But it must be made clear that while Ancajas would be staking his IBF title, he only stands to gain just the WBA secondary crown Franco holds as regular titlist. Nicaraguan legend Roman Chocolalito Gonzalez is the WBA super champion following his stoppage win over erstwhile defending titlist Khalid Yafai early this year.

Franco made the headlines in the recent restart of pro boxing in the US when he outpointed Australian Andrew Moloney to wrest the WBA regular title. It could be recalled that Moloney himself was named as an Ancajas title challenger last year but declined to fight for the vacant WBA regular belt.

As things stand now, Jerwin will be fighting Franco, the conqueror of the man who snubbed or avoided him and with the prospect of adding the WBA regular belt to his IBF full championship.

That is much better than pursuing another title defense against mandatory challenger Jonathan Javier Gonzales which has already been postponed twice since late last year, the first on account of the Mexican puzzling inability to secure a US visa on time and the second due to Covid-19 lockdowm.

A Franco unification fight is also the next best option for Ancajas given his inability to get the biggest names in the 115 lbs division as WBA super champion Chocolatito Gonzalez, WBA and Ring lineal titlist Juan Francisco Estrada and Thai former champion Srisaket Sor Rungvusai to fight him.

Gonzalez and Estrada are reportedly girding for their own highly anticipated unification match which will actually be a rematch of their closely fought light flyweight title fight held years ago won by Chocolatito.

Sor Rungvusai is set to meet the winner of that fight and most likely, would be figuring in a tuneup in the interim. However, his own return to action will depend upon how soon boxing could make a comeback in his native Thailand.

The other world titlist, WBO champion Kazuto Ioka is set to make a defense against compatriot Kosei Tanaka who had vacated his WBO flyweight crown precisely to go after Ioka's belt at 115.

Given these, a unification fight versus Franco is indeed the best option for Ancajas presently.

However, since he will be risking his full championship --as well as the chance for super fights against the division big names --for the chance to gain just a secondary world belt, Jerwin has to be on his best possible condition and preparation against Franco.

Despite comparatively new in the division's top level competition, Franco is a no nonsense opponent and definitely a threat known for his Mexican style of fighting and accurate hitting.

Toting a record of 17 wins, 1 loss and 2 draws, Franco has continuously shown improvements against increasing levels and qualities of competition over the last two years since being stopped by Argentine Emmanuel Fernandez Leone in early 2018. He engaged Oscar Negrete in three closely fought contests, winning once and drawing twice. His most recent title victory over the erstwhile undefeated Moloney is his biggest thus far.

Ancajas, 32-1-2, has not lost since suffering his first and only career defeat against fellow Pinoy Mark Anthony Geraldo in 2012. He won the IBF title over McJoe Arroyo in 2016 and has since turned back the challenge of Jose Alfredo Rodriguez, Teiru Kinoshita, Jamie Conlan, Israel Gonzales, Jonas Sultan, Alejandro Santiago Barrios, Ryuichi Funai and Miguel Gonzalez.

The author Teodoro Medina Reynoso is a veteran boxing radio talk show host living in the Philippines. He can be reached at teddyreynoso@yahoo.com and by phone 09215309477.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Teodoro Medina Reynoso.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Rivas vs Wada: Battle for Women’s OPBF Supremacy Today in Japan
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 26 Jun 2025
  • Mexican boxing icon Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez Respects Cuban fighters & rivalry
    , Thu, 26 Jun 2025
  • Claressa Shields Partners with King Moore to Empower Detroit Youth with the “Follow Your Dreams” Program Presented by SMT Financial Partners
    , Thu, 26 Jun 2025
  • Saturday’s title defense vs. Yuniel Dorticos could be prelude to mega-fight for Gilberto Ramirez against Jake Paul or Unification showdown with Jay Opetaia or Badou Jack
    , Wed, 25 Jun 2025
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 25 June 2025: Norman Flattens Sasaki; Simsri Edges Araneta; Rodriguez Outpoints Yafai
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 24 Jun 2025
  • FM Daluz rules 7th AQ Prime FIDE Standard Open chess tilt
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 24 Jun 2025
  • Ancajas awaits call to join card
    By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 24 Jun 2025
  • Macado fights Dulayba in Venue 88
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 24 Jun 2025
  • “Showtime” Shea Willcox & Rich Allen turned in KO Performances
    , Tue, 24 Jun 2025
  • Undefeated prospect Marco Romero To be showcased on Deontay Wilder PPV card this Friday night in Wichita
    , Tue, 24 Jun 2025
  • Toro Promotions. Inc. to promote its First International pro boxing show in El Salvador on September 20th
    , Tue, 24 Jun 2025
  • Oklahoma Completes Dream Season; Whips Indiana in Game 7, 103-91 for First NBA Title in Thunder Era
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Mon, 23 Jun 2025
  • Japanese Boxer Jin Sasaki Suffers Memory Loss Following Brutal Knockout in WBO Title Fight
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Mon, 23 Jun 2025
  • Toshihiko Era Becomes WBF Asia Champion at Age 50
    By Carlos Costa, , Mon, 23 Jun 2025
  • Ador Torres, Renato Cha, Lemuel De Barbo and Ivan Ognayon Score KO Wins in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Mon, 23 Jun 2025
  • 2025 USA Boxing Junior Olympics and Summer Festival Concludes with Junior, Youth and Elite Championships
    , Mon, 23 Jun 2025
  • Second Stage of the WBC Boxing Grand Prix Concludes with Great Success: Heavyweight and Featherweight
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 22 Jun 2025
  • Miel Ticket: Vito Mielnicki Jr. Shuts Out Kamil Gardzielik
    , Sun, 22 Jun 2025
  • WBC Grand Prix super lightweight results from Riyadh
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 22 Jun 2025
  • Francisco Rodriguez Jr. Stuns Galal Yafai in Birmingham, Secures Interim WBC Flyweight Title
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 22 Jun 2025
  • Jesse 'The Little Giant' Espinas Crowned WBC Asia Super Flyweight Champion in Exciting Knockout Victory in China
    By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 22 Jun 2025
  • Bantam and Intermediate Champions Crowned on Day Five of USA Boxing Junior Olympics and Summer Festival
    , Sun, 22 Jun 2025
  • Filipinos De Barbo, Ognayon, Cha and Torres in Action in Brico Santig’s Show in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 21 Jun 2025
  • ‘LA FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS 2’: DAVID STEVENS DEFEATS PETR KHAMUKOV BY 10-ROUND UNANIMOUS DECISION
    , Sat, 21 Jun 2025
  • Era and Nantapech Ready to Clash for WBF Asia in Thailand; Filipinos in the Undercard
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 21 Jun 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.