BRISBANE, Australia ? Manny Pacquiao isn’t the only Filipino boxer trying to leave Brisbane with a world title.
Right before Pacquiao steps between the ropes to defend his WBO welterweight title against Jeff Horn, Pacquiao’s compatriot Jerwin Ancajas will make his second defense of the IBF junior bantamweight title against mandatory challenger Teiru Kinoshita of Japan.
It’s an astronomical leap in exposure for Ancajas, who won the title last year in a mostly empty gymnasium in Taguig, earning the IBF minimum $3,750 purse for beating McJoe Arroyo to win the title without television coverage. Ancajas used that purse to buy his father ? a former banana plantation worker ? a home.
Ancajas defended the title successfully earlier this year in Macau against Jose Alfredo Rodriguez with a seventh-round stoppage, but again there was no TV coverage.
This time, Ancajas will have a live audience of thousands, plus millions in the United States watching on ESPN. The fight card will be beamed to 150 countries around the world, according to the show’s promoter Duco Events, while Michael Koncz of MP Promotions, which promotes Ancajas, says Ancajas-Kinoshita will be shown on GMA in the Philippines.
In essence, he’ll get to wear Pacquiao’s cape for the Filipino fans before they play “Thunderstruck.” Ancajas will make a career-high $60,000 for this fight, his manager-trainer Joven Jimenez tells Rappler.
“It will be my first time to fight with that many people watching,” said Ancajas (26-1-1, 17 knockouts) of Panabo City, Davao del Norte, Philippines. He’s promoted by Pacquiao, and had fought once previously on Pacquiao’s undercard in 2014 when the latter fought Chris Algieri in Macau. This time they’ll both be defending their titles.
“Jerwin’s a great fighter, he’s a great kid. He’s dedicated, motivated,” said Koncz.
“He reminds me of Manny somewhat when he was younger.”
Ancajas is one of just 4 current Filipino world champions, and at 25 is the youngest of that group. His technical style is more akin to Donnie Nietes than Pacquiao, but he’s grown in confidence in recent years, developing his right jab into a formidable weapon while cultivating a strong body attack to go along with his relentless combination punching.
