UNIFICATION WORLD title bout could become a reality sooner for reigning International Boxing Federation (IBF) super flyweight world champion Jerwin Ancajas as a potential December showdown with World Boxing Organization (WBO) Kazuto Ioka in Japan was already in the works.
International matchmaker and Manny Pacquiao’s MP Promotions head Sean Gibbons confirmed on Thursday that the negotiation for a unification world title bout with the camp of the 32-year-old Japanese Ioka (27-2 win-loss record with 15 knockouts) has just started.
“We are working with a unification fight with Ioka,” Gibbons told Businessmirror through an overseas call, noting the bout in enemy’s territory in Japan is just fine. “It’s fine and no problem with Japan, but we just have to figure out the quarantine restrictions.”
Gibbons added that it was difficult to hold the fight in the US due to monetary concern.
“Nobody in the US will pay for the fight. We have to follow the money,” Gibbons explained, noting that if negotiation fails they will just get a regular fight in the US in December.
Ancajas (33-1-2 win-loss-draw record with 22 knockouts) has been dreaming of a unification world title fight after his latest unanimous decision victory over Jonathan Javier Rodriguez last April 10 in Connecticut.
The 29-year-old Panabo, Davao del Norte pride was elated when he was called out by Ioka last September 1 for a unification bout after his victory against Mexican challenger Francisco Rodriguez via unanimous decision in Japan.