Jerwin Ancajas has gained the respect of his opponent due to his courteous demeanor and his impressive boxing profile.
With 24 knockouts in 34 victories, Ancajas has established himself as a formidable force. This reputation will be put to the test as he faces Takuma Inoue for the World Boxing Association (WBA) Super bantamweight title at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, Japan.
Inoue, the defending champion with an 18-1 win-loss record, acknowledges Ancajas as his biggest challenge in the ring and even refers to him as his idol.
“He is the best fighter I’ll ever face, so I want to be focused. I want to fight until the end, and I want to win the fight,” said Inoue during the press conference following their weigh-in on Friday.
The younger brother of the renowned Japanese Monster Naoya Inoue expressed his respect for Ancajas, saying he had watched Ancajas’ fights and would only realize the challenge when they finally meet in the ring on Saturday.
Both Ancajas and Takuma successfully made the 118-pound weight limit. Ancajas is entering his most significant fight since moving up to a heavier weight class after holding the International Boxing Federation’s 115-pound title from 2016 to 2022.
Ancajas faced back-to-back setbacks in the sunset of his superflyweight career, bowing twice to Fernando Daniel Martinez, in losing his belt in February 2022, and experiencing another defeat in October of the same year, both by unanimous decision.
Ancajas’ manager, Joven Jimenez, decided that his ward should move up to a more comfortable weight as he earned the title fight against Inoue after a convincing victory over Wilner Soto of Colombia with a fifth-round knockout.
Despite the courteous gestures exchanged between Ancajas and Inoue during their first meeting, including bows, smiles, and handshakes, Ancajas is determined to deliver an impressive win on fight night. “Maganda kung knockout,” he vowed.
Before Ancajas steps into the ring, another Filipino fighter, Jonas Sultan, will see action against Riku Masuda in an eight-round bantamweight contest.