SAN FRANCISCO ? Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum assured International Boxing Federation champion Jerwin Ancajas on Wednesday that he has the power to grant his wish of facing Thailand?s Srisaket Sor Rungvisai, regarded as the super-flyweight (115 lbs) division?s premier puncher.
?I understand that they will be going to Thailand and look at the Thai kid (Sor Rungvisai) who knocked out ?Chocolatito? (Nicaraguan Roman Gonzaez) and he is a terrific fighter,? said Arum, whose Top Rank Inc. is staging Ancajas? sixth defense of the IBF crown against Mexican Alejandro Santiago on Friday night at the Oracle Arena. Arum insists that he has a very good working relationship with Sor Rungvisai?s promotional team, led by Tom Loeffler.
?Jerwin has to look at the Thai guy with (matchmaker) Sean Gibbons and then decide if that?s who he wants. If that?s what he wants, I will go out and get that guy through Thai because Tom would be delighted.?
?If they decide that they are ready to fight somebody like that, believe me I will be able to make that match and do that match probably early next year,? added Arum, who turns 87 in December.
Sor Rungvisai is set to defend his World Boxing Council title on Oct. 6 at the Impact Arena in Bangkok and members of Ancajas? team are looking forward to the trip so a formal challenge can be issued.
However, Arum cautions Ancajas not to look past Santiago, who admits that fighting for a world crown ?means a lot to me.?
?I am going to try to take the title with us (to Mexico),? said Gonzalez, 22, the clear underdog against Ancajas, 26.
But Ancajas feels he is due for a mighty showing especially after his last fight, a mandatory against Jonas Sultan, wasn?t as explosive as his previous defenses.
?We did things that we didn?t do before, and we?ll try our best to come up with a better performance this time,? he said.
The official weighin will be held at 11 a.m. of Thursday with Ancajas? team finally complete following the arrival late Wednesday night of Gibbons and Joe Ramos, the official representative of Manny Pacquiao.
Pacquiao?s MP Promotions has the southpaw Ancajas under its banner.
