Philippines, 14 Sep 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Ancajas Better Off Moving Up?


PhilBoxing.com




Perhaps, Jerwin Ancajas would be better off, career wise if he moves up to and campaigns in the bantamweights and join the company of fellow Pinoys Nonito Donaire and Johnriel Casimero and Japanese two belts holder Naoya Inoue in the battle of supremacy in that weight class.

Ancajas has been super flyweight champion of the IBF since more than six years ago, in fact he is the most senior of the titlists in the division and among the longest reigning world boxing champions and yet, he could not get any of the other major beltholders to a unification fight.

He could have last December against WBO titleholder Kazuto Ioka but that projected unification got cancelled due to renewed travel restrictions in Japan. That fight may be rescheduled this new year but nothing is certain yet.

Ioka though is not Jerwin's original target.

For years, he has patiently waited for the chance to cross mitts against any of the division's biggest names as Juan Francisco Estrada, Roman 'Chocolatito' Gonzalez and Srisaket Sor Rungvusai.

But time and again, he was left outside looking in as the powers that be determined that those three have first to settle their so called unfinished businesses as they held a win over the other at some points in time. Estrada is 1-1 versus Gonzalez and also 1-1 against Rungvusai while Gonzalez is 0-2 versus Rungvusai but originally won the crown by beating Cuadras who once defeated Rungvusai.

How many fights do they have to fight among themselves to settle their unfinished business?

It could be recalled that Chocolatito Gonzalez became pound for pound best when he won his third division world crown at 115 lbs by besting Mexico's Carlos Cuadras in 2017. But Gonzalez lost that WBC super flyweight title on points to Thailand's Sor Rungvusai who defeated him again in their rematch by knockout. Rungvusai went on to defend that title by outpointing Estrada but Estrada turned the tables by split decision win in their title rematch.

Gonzalez bounced back to contention by winning the WBA title over Khalid Yafai and proceeded to challenge Estrada in a unification match which Estrada controversially won by decision. Rungvusai should have been next in line for Estrada but the WBC ruled an immediate title rematch versus Gonzalez.

Estrada however contracted Covid 19 virus and is unable to fight. The WBC decided to elevate Estrada to super champion and have the regular belt fought over by Gonzalez and an opponent to be determined.

That should have presented opportunity for Ancajas or Ioka to break into the seeming exclusive circle and compete for the vacant title while staking their title in a virtual unification.

But the powers that be decided otherwise and resorted to importing from the lower weight in the person of WBC flyweight champion Julio Cesar Martinez to rival Gonzalez for the vacant WBC super flyweight title.

What is funny is that Martinez stated that win or lose, he will move back down to flyweight to challenge WBO titlist Sunny Edwards in a unification. What the...???

The WBA did even worst when it had to tap light flyweight Jesse Bam Rodriguez to fight Mexican ex WBC champion Carlos Cuadras for its vacant regular super flyweight title when Rungvusai, his supposed original original opponent also contracted the viral infection. The title had been vacant since Gonzalez wrested the super title from Yafai.

Rodriguez overcame size and power disadvantages and upset Cuadras recently. It is not clear if Rodriguez will stay in the new weight class or go back down to light flyweight.

Still odder, Gonzalez stated that if he wins the vacant WBC regular super flyweight title, he is amenable to defend it against Rodriguez's brother WBA interim belt holder, Joshua Franco. What???

Given these strange occurrences, Ancajas may be better off moving up to 118 lbs where the situations are clearer and saner than his current division where fans and observers can't make heads or tails of things.

Even if the unification with Ioka pushes through this year, Jerwin may be better off starting to campaign in the bantamweights as it seems that he won't be getting better break with WBA and WBC for the opportunity to fight their super fly fair haired champions any time soon.

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:

  • Inoue and Akhmadaliev Make Weight for Sunday's Battle, Watch it LIVE on Facebook!
    By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 14 Sep 2025
  • IIEE North Cotabato and Metro Central are the Golden Champion on 3x3 Basketball and 3x3 Chess
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 14 Sep 2025
  • Sydney Sy Tancontian is Female Awardee of Sports Hero of the Year
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 13 Sep 2025
  • Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford: Size Matters
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 13 Sep 2025
  • BOOTS TALKS SPARRING WITH CANELO IN ‘DAY IN THE LIFE’
    , Sat, 13 Sep 2025
  • WEIGHTS FROM LAS VEGAS: CANELO - 167.5 LBS., CRAWFORD - 167.5 LBS.
    By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 13 Sep 2025
  • BELFAST: WEIGH-IN RESULTS AND FIGHT NIGHT RUNNING ORDER
    , Sat, 13 Sep 2025
  • Canoy cancels title fight due to child’s death
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 13 Sep 2025
  • Vietnam’s Pool Revolution: Hanoi Open Pool Championship
    , Sat, 13 Sep 2025
  • SUNDAY: Naoya Inoue vs. Murodjon Akhmadaliev Undisputed Super Bantamweight Showdown to Stream Exclusively on Top Rank’s Facebook Channel in the U.S. & UK
    , Fri, 12 Sep 2025
  • National Shelter Month Run on October 25 in DGT
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 12 Sep 2025
  • Canelo-Crawford: Betting Odds Reveal a Battle of Money vs. Public Opinion
    By Dong Secuya, , Fri, 12 Sep 2025
  • BELFAST PRESS CONFERENCE: EVERYTHING LEWIS CROCKER AND PADDY DONOVAN SAID AHEAD OF HISTORIC WORLD TITLE SHOWDOWN
    , Fri, 12 Sep 2025
  • GABRIELA “SWEET POISON” FUNDORA TO DEFEND UNDISPUTED CROWN AGAINST HIGHLY RANKED NEW FOE ALEXAS “IRON LADY” KUBICKI
    , Fri, 12 Sep 2025
  • Chino Sy Tancontian is Sports Hero of the Year 2025
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 12 Sep 2025
  • Two (or Three) Lefts Make a Right: Francisco Guilledo to Luisito Espinosa
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Thu, 11 Sep 2025
  • Yoseline Perez Advances to 2025 World Boxing Championships Semifinals
    , Thu, 11 Sep 2025
  • UNIFIED WORLD CHAMPION OSCAR COLLAZO HOSTS MEDIA WORKOUT
    , Thu, 11 Sep 2025
  • Jerwin Ancajas Set for IBF Mandatory Eliminator Against Former World Champ Ryosuke Nishida; Winner Fights Naoya Inoue
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 11 Sep 2025
  • “Night of Champions” Returns to Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando on September 19
    , Thu, 11 Sep 2025
  • Local Favorite Bryce Mills Tops First Boxing Card At del Lago Resort & Casino
    , Thu, 11 Sep 2025
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaiman: It´s Fightweek Fight: Canelo vs. Crawford
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Wed, 10 Sep 2025
  • Casimero comeback next month in Kyrgyzstan?
    By Nick Giongco, , Wed, 10 Sep 2025
  • Team USA Concludes Day Six of 2025 World Boxing Championships
    , Wed, 10 Sep 2025
  • Andrade, Garras rule Milo marathon in Tagum
    , Wed, 10 Sep 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.