International Boxing Federation super flyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas will defend his title against compatriot Jonas Sultan in a match promoted by the Top Rank Promotion at the Save Mart Center in Fresno, California today.
Despite being the heavy favorite, the 26-year-old Panabo, Davao Del Norte native Ancajas said he is the underdog in the fight.
?We are not going to relax in this fight. I?m still the underdog even though people are thinking that I have the edge, I need to be careful and wise,? Ancajas (29-1-1 win-loss-draw record with 20 knockouts),? told The Manila Times via overseas call.
?But I?m ready and excited for this fight. There?s no pressure on my part,? added Ancajas, who tipped the scale at 114.8 lbs. during the official weigh-in. ?I?m really focusing and I will use a round by round approach in this fight.?
Ancajas won the crown in September 2016 via unanimous decision against Puerto Rican McJoe Arroyo. He successfully defended his belt four times all by way of knockout?against Mexican Jose Alfredo Rodriguez, Japanese Teiru Kinoshita, Irish Jamie Conlan and against Mexican Israel Gonzalez last February 3 in Texas.
Sultan is entering the bout with a 14-3 record with nine knockouts. His trainer Edito Villamor said that his ward is determined to dethrone Ancajas.
?We are really excited for this fight. Sultan wants to win this fight and we?re happy that we are part of this historic All-Filipino showdown,? said Villamor in a separate interview. ?He (Sultan) really likes to become a world champion. He didn?t see his family for about sixth months and he sacrificed a lot of things for this bout.?
Sultan beat two fellow Pinoys namely Sonny Boy Jaro and Johnriel Casimero prior to his fight with Ancajas.
?Nobody said that Sultan would win against Jaro and Casimero before, but he won those fights. I know Sultan can adjust to any opponent.?
Sultan tipped the scale at 114.4 lbs. during the weigh-in.
The bout is the first All-Filipino world title fight since Pancho Villa fought and beat Clever Sencio in 1925, in Manila.
Ushering the Ancajas-Sultan main event bout is another world title fight between World Boxing Association super flyweight champion Khalil Yafai and David Carmona.
