NEW LOOK Jerwin “The Pretty Boy” Ancajas expressed willingness to stand inside the squared circle with Japanese reigning World Boxing Association (WBA) bantamweight titleholder Takuma Inoue after his successful debut in the 118-pound class.
“I feel very comfortable at my present weight. I’m very much willing to challenge Takuma Inoue for the title anywhere at any given time,” the 31-year-old warrior from Panabo, Davao del Norte told the BusinessMirror last Monday.
A day after scoring a fifth round technical knockout win against Colombian Wilner Soto in Minnesota over the weekend, Ancajas buckled down to work and had a light sparring in Minneapolis gym before returning to Las Vegas, Nevada.
Ancajas said during an online interview late Monday that aside from being comfortable in his new weight, he also regained his speed and punching power. He had spent most of his time at the super flyweight rank since becoming first a world champion in 2016 after beating McJoe Arroyo.
“I never felt anything disadvantageous on my part before, during and after the fight. No fatigue on my part, I am moving so fast and comfortable against my opponent,” he added. “I will train harder and smarter to become a world champion again.”
He is also willing to fight reigning IBF super flyweight Fernando Daniel Martinez of Argentina for a third showdown—but in the bantamweight rank. Martinez dethroned Ancajas as IBF super flyweight champion last year and beat him again in their rematch last October.
“If opportunity strikes and he’s willing to move up in the bantamweight ranks, I will welcome him here. I am very much willing to fight him again,” Ancajas (34-3-2 win-loss-draw record with 23 knockouts) said.
Takuma Inoue, 27, the younger brother of former undisputed bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue, is sporting an 18-1 record with four knockouts. He bested Venezuelan Liborio Solis last April via unanimous decision to win one of the belts his brother vacated.
Joven Jimenez, the trainer and manager of Ancajas, said they would not return home yet in Manila to focus on “bigger things ahead.”
“We will stay here, train continuously, and wait for the opportunity to come.”
International matchmaker Sean Gibbons is hoping to formally set up the WBA champion Inoue against Ancajas this year.