With Ancajas? last three fights taking place in Macau, Australia and the UK, the 25-year-old is finding his feet away from the Philippines. With ?Pretty Boy? holding the IBF version of the super flyweight world championship, opportunities are coming thick and fast in the booming 115lbs division. A reported ?Superfly 2? show is rumoured to be in the works for February 24, and with space on the card the timing could be right for an American debut for the Imus based fighter.
Involved in one of the most competitive and exciting divisions in boxing, Ancajas is on the verge of worldwide stardom; selecting his next ?victim? could be one of the most important moves in the career of Jerwin Ancajas? 1 Kal Yafai (22-0)
With Ancajas being exposed to the British boxing public on Saturday night, a move to fight WBA super flyweight champion Kal Yafai would tick several boxes. Jerwin has held his title just three months more than the Birmingham-born fighter, and with five defences between them, both guys are solidifying their positions in the 115lbs division.
Fighting under Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom banner, Yafai is able to feature as a chief support for huge pay-per-view cards. With two of his last three fights coming on Anthony Joshua undercards, Yafai has gained exposure he wouldn’t normally attain, making him a star in the UK – especially in Birmingham.
With unifications usually taking precedent over mandatory requirements, Ancajas and Yafai could effectively get it on in the early part of 2018, providing the money and exposure is suitable for both fighter. Ancajas has shown his willingness to travel in his recent outings, with a spot on the next Joshua undercard a huge opportunity.
With 52 fights between them it’s time for both guys to step up in levels of opponent; a fight between these two would be in the realms of a 50-50, disregarding the potential home advantage of Yafai. 2 Srisaket Sor Rungvisai (44-4-1)
After back-to-back defeats over the heralded former pound-for-pound contender Roman Gonzalez, Thailand’s Srisaket Sor Rungvisai has shot up the aforementioned rankings after claiming and defending the WBC strap.
A huge underdog in their first meeting in March, Rungvisai came away with a majority decision at Madison Square Garden and followed it up with a convincing fourth round stoppage in their rematch in September.
With the champion rumoured to be fighting Juan Francisco Estrada on the ‘Superfly 2’ card in February, Ancajas may have to bide his time for this unification, however a fight against the winner in the early part of the summer is a big possibility.
Sor Rungvisai is making a name for himself in the USA, and with his third US appearance in a row expected on February 24 a future unification against Ancajas would draw in the crowds.
With HBO backing the super flyweights, more exposure is assured over the next 12 months, allowing this fight to stand on its own – providing the WBC champion can negate the challenge of the dangerous Estrada. 3 Roman Gonzalez (46-2)
Here is Ancajas’ possible opponent for February 24. The ‘Superfly 2’ card will need to be stacked with 115lbs action, and with Gonzalez left with nowhere to go after his back-to-back world title defeats, Ancajas could provide “Chocolatito” with a needed lifeline.
Despite just turning 30, Gonzalez’s 48 professional fights appear to have caught up with him, with the Nicaraguan struggling to find the hand-speed he once possessed. Critics feel a move down in weight could be on the cards for Gonzalez, however it’s hard to see the former pound-for-pound contender turning down a potential world title fight.
Gonzalez has won world titles at four different weight categories, however may have hit his ceiling after three underwhelming outings at super flyweight.
This fight would act as the perfect hors d’oeuvre to the rumoured Srisaket Sor Rungvisai vs Juan Francisco Estrada headline fight, with rotations of opponents easily manageable in keeping this division thriving.
If Ancajas is serious in his quest for supremacy at super flyweight, beating one of the best ‘little guys’ of all time would be a real scalp to add to his growing record, signalling the passing of the baton for years to come…
