Philippines, 11 Apr 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:

  • Weights From ‘Mielnicki vs. Huerta’ Event from Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City and Broadcast live on ProBoxTV
    , Sat, 11 Apr 2026
  • Boquiren to face Olmillo in RFL on April 18
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 11 Apr 2026
  • USA Opens Strong at 2026 Gee Bee Tournament In Helsinki
    , Sat, 11 Apr 2026
  • Filipino chess prodigy Nika Juris Nicolas eyes Woman International Master title
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 11 Apr 2026
  • Blazen Rocili "The Filipino Giant" Dominates in Statement Victory at "Rumble in the UNE," Improves to 10-0
    , Fri, 10 Apr 2026
  • Oppas to face Lu on April 11 in Australia
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 10 Apr 2026
  • Ilar, Infiesto to play in Guevarra Chess Cup
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 10 Apr 2026
  • Pabular to face Kitano on April 13 at Korakuen Hall
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 10 Apr 2026
  • Five reasons why IBA NOMAD 14 in Almaty is worth watching
    , Fri, 10 Apr 2026
  • Antonio bounces back in Sydney International Open Chess Championship
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 10 Apr 2026
  • Wise Owl Boxing Signs Rising Los Angeles Prospect Jahvad McDermott
    , Fri, 10 Apr 2026
  • Staying active is Magsayo’s priority
    By Joaquin Henson, , Thu, 09 Apr 2026
  • Abu Bakar ready to rumble against Singh on April 11
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 09 Apr 2026
  • Atty. Aldwin Alegre is set to compete in the 23rd Bangkok Chess Club Open 2026 to be held at the Luxurious Sheraton Hua Hin Resort and Spa, Thailand from April 11-19, 2026.
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 09 Apr 2026
  • WEIGH IN RESULTS IGLESIAS VS SILYAGIN - TOMORROW NIGHT IN MONTREAL!
    , Thu, 09 Apr 2026
  • Kristian Prenga Headlines “Crossroads in Brick City” on June 6 in Newark
    , Thu, 09 Apr 2026
  • Macala, Silva, Lopez to play in 14th Atty. Jong Guevarra Cup
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 09 Apr 2026
  • Former World Champion Miguel Berchelt Confirmed for Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Cinco De Mayo Weekend, Saturday May 2, in  Las Vegas
    , Thu, 09 Apr 2026
  • Sem Japet Enano Stuns Hometown Favorite Tyrell Adams to Claim IBO Oceania Featherweight Title
    , Thu, 09 Apr 2026
  • IBF lightweight eliminator tops IBA.PRO 17 card in Ufa
    , Thu, 09 Apr 2026
  • Biasong fights Bustrillo on April 18 in Bukidnon
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 08 Apr 2026
  • Olmillo fights Boquiren on April 18 in RFL
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 08 Apr 2026
  • Overweight Paradero cancels bout
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 08 Apr 2026
  • Biado's World 8-Ball Title Bid Ends
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 08 Apr 2026
  • WBC Champion Lester Martinez will be honored in Guatemala Congress
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 08 Apr 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.