FORMER world champion Jerwin “The Pretty Boy” Ancajas makes his bantamweight debut against International Boxing Federation (IBF) Pan Pacific champion Songsaeng Phoyaem of Thailand on February 12 at the Imus Sports Complex in Imus, Cavite.
International matchmaker and MP Promotions chief Sean Gibbons told BusinessMirror on Wednesday that the 30-year-old former International Boxing Federation (IBF) super flyweight champion will get his baptisim in a heavier weight division from his former super flyweight class.
“February 11 [in the US] is a great start for Jerwin [Ancajas] to get back to winning a world title,” said Gibbons, who’s in town to accompany boxing icon Manny Pacquiao in his exhibition match with Youtuber DK Yoo recently in South Korea.
“He just outgrew the 115-pound division and will be much stronger at 118 pounds,” he said. “February 11 is a homecoming fight and Jerwin’s road to becoming a two time two-weight world champion.”
Ancajas dominated the IBF’s 115-pound category for six years from 2016. He beat Puerto Rican McJoe Arroyo in Taguig City to win the belt, but lost it to Rio de Janeiro Olympian Fernando Daniel Martinez of Argentina via unanimous decision last February 2022 in Las Vegas.
Ancajas (33-3-2 win-loss-draw record with 22 knockouts) lost in his rematch with Martinez last October in Carson City, California, a defeat that made his team decide for him to move up in weight.
The 23-year-old Phoyaem is sporting a 19-3 win-loss record with 13 knockouts.