Jerwin Ancajas resumes his globe-trotting ways when he defends the International Boxing Federation (IBF) super-flyweight crown for the third time against unbeaten puncher Jamie Conlan of Northern Ireland on Nov. 18 in Belfast.
Ancajas, 25, last defended the IBF 115-lb title with a seventh-round knockout of Teiru Nikoshita of Japan on the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao-Jeff Horn welterweight war before more than 51,000 fans in Brisbane last July.
In January, Ancajas (27-1-1 with 18 KOs) stopped Jose Alfredo Rodriguez of Mexico also in the seventh stanza in Macau after winning the title in Manila when he beat McJoe Arroyo of Puerto Rico.
Jerwin Ancajas
Ranked fifth by the IBF, Conlan (19-0 with 11 KOs), 30, is known for his rugged ways on top of the ring and relentless two-fisted assault that he is sometimes called ?The Mexican.?
Ancajas is one of just three reigning Filipino world champions and is under the promotional banner of Manny Pacquiao?s MP Promotions.
Managed and trained by Joven Jimenez, the southpaw Ancajas insists he has to be at his best to retain the title.
Conlan, interviewed during a press conference announcing his title challenge, swears he is up against a high-caliber fighter.
?(Ancajas is) Very, very impressive,? said Conlan.
And just like the defending champion, Conlan feels he cannot afford to enter the ring less than 100 percent.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao left for Beijing yesterday to attend a promotion he helped put up in partnership with Chinese boxing officials. Pacquiao?s wife Jinkee joined him.
London Olympian Mark Anthony Barriga will headline the card that takes place tonight.
