Jerwin Ancajas’ defense of the International Boxing Federation (IBF) super-flyweight title on 26 February in Las Vegas will be a major achievement assuming the Filipino fighter beats Argentine challenger Fernando Martinez.
If victorious, Ancajas will match the 10 title defenses made by the late great Gabriel “Flash” Elorde during his reign as world junior-lightweight champion from 1960 until 1967.
So far, Ancajas has made nine and he is on the cusp of joining Elorde as being the only Filipinos to ever make such a number of world title defenses during one uninterrupted reign.
Currently, four-division champion Donnie Nietes holds the most number of defenses made with 14 when he reigned a mini-fly, light-fly and fly.
He is followed by Nonito Donaire, another four-division champion, with 12 that were fought at flyweight, bantam and super-bantam.
Manny Pacquiao also did quite a number, chalking up 11 title defenses across eight weight classes during his incredible 20-plus year run.
To prime up for Martinez, Ancajas will relocate to Sin City for the final phase of his training camp.
Since winning the IBF 115-lb strap in September 2016, Ancajas has traveled all over the world and across the United States in keeping the championship.
Unlike Elorde, who almost exclusively defended on home soil, he regularly fought overseas.
The southpaw Ancajas has defended thrice in California and once each in Texas and Connecticut and made appearances as well in Macau, Belfast in Northern Ireland, Brisbane in Australia and Puebla in Mexico.
