Ancajas starts revving up

Less than two weeks after electrifying the United Kingdom, Jerwin Ancajas is already checking back to training camp in Cavite, to prepare for his much-awaited US debut being eyed for February 2018.

"Jerwin's going to start working out," said Ancajas' chief handler and trainer Joven Jimenez after the Bulletin came out with a story last week about Top Rank Bob Arum's plans of importing the reigning International Boxing Federation super-flyweight king.

Ancajas scored a knockdown-filled sixth-round stoppage of Jamie Conlan of Northern Ireland last Nov. 18 at the SSE Arena in Belfast, a performance so explosive that the Hall of Fame promoter drooled over the prospects of bringing him over to America.

"Everyone's talking about this terrific kid, Jerwin Ancajas," said Arum, who promises to give the IBF 115-lb titlist an attractive foe.

Jimenez said Dallas, Texas, is being targeted as venue for Ancajas' fight, something his entire team believes will open the doors to more opportunities.

Ancajas had won the title last year from McJoe Arroyo of Puerto Rico and has since defended it thrice, the first two at the expense of Jose Alfredo Rodriguez of Mexico in Macau and Teiru Kinoshita of Japan in Brisbane, Australia.

"This is our dream...to fight in the US," said Jimenez, who credits American agent Sean Gibbons for hooking up with Arum's Top Rank.

Ancajas is under the promotional banner of Manny Pacquiao's MP Promotions, making it a lot easier for Top Rank to reach out and promote him.

One of just three current Filipino world champion, Ancajas is in a weight category teeming with highoctane talent.

Also campaigning at super-fly are former poundfor-pound entrant Roman Gonzalez of Nicaragua, Srisaket Rungvisai of Thailand, Carlos Cuadras of Mexico and Naoya Inoue of Japan.