Philippines, 24 Jul 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


COSTA: AWESOME! KAZUTO IOKA VS JERWIN ANCAJAS IN TOKYO; WHO WILL WIN? (ANALYSIS)


PhilBoxing.com




This fight is so cool!! World champions Kazuto Ioka and “Pretty Boy” Jerwin Ancajas will engage in hot battle to unify the IBF & WBO super flyweight crowns on New Year’s eve in Tokyo; and what a special holiday gift this is for boxing fans who wonder who will emerge victorious?

I can imagine that it will be an outstanding clash because of the superb quality of the two combatants.

Two times I have seen Kazuto Ioka (27-2, 15 KO's) from ringside and I have been impressed. First, I saw him 3 years ago in Macao when Kazuto lost a close fight against the great Donnie "Ahas" Nietes. It was a competitive technical clash won by the Donnie via split decision.

Then, I attended Kazuto's defense in Tokyo against Pinoy challenger Aston Palicte, and absolutely yes, Kazuto Ioka was outstanding, soundly stopping the tough Palicte in ten rounds, proving once again the kind of fantastic fighter he is: strong, skilled, experienced, smart.


Jerwin Ancajas lands hard on Japanese Ryuichi Funai. Fans wonder if Kazuto Ioka Will be punished the same way.

But the Filipino “Pretty Boy” Jerwin Ancajas (33-1-1, 22 KO's) is pretty terrific too!

At 29 years of age, three years younger that the Nippon star, Ancajas aims to soundly defeat Kazuto Ioka in his own backyard, to become the unified IBF/WBO super flyweight world champion, giving himself the very best present in this holiday season.

In my mind, I see this exciting Ioka vs Ancajas collision unfolding as a highly technical, very strategic battle, both men using their jabs as they usually do so efficiently, landing well-timed combinations, but never neglecting their defense as they are both aware of their opponent's proven abilities.

In fact, even though both men can hit hard, they are not raw brawlers. Not at all. They are both tactical fighters who wage battle completely calmed, cool and collected, studying their opponent’s weakness, checking them out, testing them, finding openings in their defense so as to take advantage later on with their superior, sound, effective, boxing skills. Absolutely.

In my mind, I don't imagine that this is going to be as an all-out war from the first bell. I'd bet that it will be an intense chess match, and it’s going to be fantastic: boxing at its best, entertaining and highly competitive.

Sure, there will be thrilling moments of superb intensity, as result of tough exchanges. We can be so sure of that. But I see this fighting encounter going the 12 rounds distance, of course, I could be wrong,

To me, both Kazuto and Jerwin are intelligent, technical boxers with high IQ and effective styles with lots of class, and fans will enjoy it in Japan.

Regarding the point of Jerwin going all the way to Ioka's hometown, well, how many times had Jerwin rumbled against opponents behind enemy lines? Yeah,, many. Ancajas going to his fighting partner’s backyard is OK with him. He has grown used to it. It's normal to him. It will not be a problem for the Pretty Boy to be in his best fighting mode in the great Land of the Rising Sun.

Importantly, at 29 years of age, Jerwin has arrived to the primetime of his boxing career with a wealth of valuable fighting experience, plus he has got more and more accurate and precise with his body attack. We can remember the way Jerwin dismantled Japanese Teiru Kinoshita with that body shot bomb in round 7 some years ago. Since then, Jerwin has further improved his body attack technique, which could be key in his New Year's eve war.


(L-R): Trainer Joven Jimenez, Jerwin Ancajas, Promoter Sean Gibbons and this Philboxing reporter during a boxing event in Malaysia in 2018.

In addition to experience and body attacks, precision and timing will be important tools that the Pinoy will have to make good use of against Kazuto Ioka, a man who is one of the three brightest and most popular stars in Japan's boxing (the other two are world champs "The Monster" Naoya Inoue and Ryota Murata).

Kazuto Ioka vs Jerwin Ancajas... indeed, what a great way to finish the year.

The winner will get a sky-rocketing super boost to his boxing career by becoming a unified IBF/WBO 115-pound world champion, positioning perfectly for even more thrilling and lucrative wars for 2022, perhaps wars against Nicaraguan star Roman "Chocolatito" Gonzalez or Mexican WBA king Juan Francisco "El Gallo" Estrada for complete super flyweight supremacy. There's a lot to win. But who will the winner be?

In my mind, this is going to be one super competitive fight that I guess will go the distance with the fighter from Davao coming on top by points, edging the amazing Nippon 4 division champ. But that is just my guess. And who do you pick?

May the Best Man Win.!!

#iokaancajas

The author Carlos Costa is a Philboxing reporter with a lifetime passion for the sport of boxing. Carlos can be reached at carlos512@hotmail.com and whatsapp/viber +639184538152.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Carlos Costa.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Spence vs Tszyu Fight Analysis and Prediction
    By Ralph Rimpell, , Fri, 24 Jul 2026
  • “BUTTERFLY BRAWL” MARKS RETURN TO ICONIC SANTA MONICA PIER
    By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Fri, 24 Jul 2026
  • AIM Jerick Faeldonia vying for Bangkok chess tilt
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 24 Jul 2026
  • PHILBOXING.COM THURSDAY ROUNDUP: Scale Shock in Pattaya, Red Sea Staredowns, and Final Countdown to Sydney
    By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Thu, 23 Jul 2026
  • USA Boxing Sends Eight Boxers to Italy for International Duel
    , Thu, 23 Jul 2026
  • P248k prize on the line in Moon Cake Festival Pro Amateur 10-ball tournament at Pacman's Cue Club
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 23 Jul 2026
  • Super Lightweight Contender Frank “The Ghost” Martin Inks Promotional Pact with Top Rank
    By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Thu, 23 Jul 2026
  • DUELING TUNE-UPS: Joshua and Fury Play High-Stakes Chicken Across Asia with November Mega-Fight Hanging in the Balance
    By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Wed, 22 Jul 2026
  • Chavon Stillwell and Izaiah Dent Put Their Perfect Records on the Line in a Can't-Miss Main Event at BiYu Promotions' "Fights Under the Lights"
    By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Wed, 22 Jul 2026
  • Unbeaten Bizhamov faces Mironchikov in IBA Pro 20 main event in Naberezhnye Chelny
    By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Wed, 22 Jul 2026
  • Cuarto ready to fight Paradero
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 22 Jul 2026
  • CHAVES DEFENDS WBO LATINO TITLE AGAINST GARCIA AT PRUDENTIAL CENTER IN NEWARK, NJ ON SEPT 4
    By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Wed, 22 Jul 2026
  • Undefeated Middleweight Prospect Sebastian Juarez Returns August 8 Against Rance Ward
    By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Wed, 22 Jul 2026
  • WBC President Mauricio Sulaimán and WBC Cares visits Pedro Fiorito Hospital in Avellaneda, Argentina
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 22 Jul 2026
  • COLD SHOULDER IN SYDNEY: Spence and Tszyu Trade Snubs and Staredowns at Grand Arrivals Launch
    By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Tue, 21 Jul 2026
  • Suarez, Lewkowicz Ask the WBO to Enforce Navarrete Rematch and Begin Negotiations Immediately
    By Carlos Costa, , Tue, 21 Jul 2026
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 20 JULY 2026: Papot Outpoints Eubank; Pacheco Stops Aleem; Suarez Smokes Avila in One Round
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 21 Jul 2026
  • Fiery Exchange at Fanatics Fest: Garcia and Benn Nearly Brawl in New York Ahead of Sept. 12 Title Clash
    By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Tue, 21 Jul 2026
  • John Michael Zulueta Headlines in Highland Show July 25 in Thailand, LIVE on TrillerTV
    By Carlos Costa, , Tue, 21 Jul 2026
  • Results from Dominican Republic: Alberto Puello Stops Ángel Bolaño in 3
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 21 Jul 2026
  • Matchroom Boxing reveals major fights in UK & Ireland schedule from August to October
    , Tue, 21 Jul 2026
  • Colombia National Congress Awarded "Kid Pambelé" with Grand Cross Knight
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 21 Jul 2026
  • MILO Marathon returns to Davao on August 2
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 21 Jul 2026
  • PHILBOXING.COM WEEKEND ROUNDUP: News, Fallout, and the Long Shadow of Sydney
    By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Tue, 21 Jul 2026
  • Joe Hand Promotions Secures Commercial Rights for Errol Spence Jr. vs. Tim Tszyu Showdown
    , Tue, 21 Jul 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.