Ancajas welcomes Japanese champ’s call for unification

INTERNATIONAL Boxing Federation (IBF) super flyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas gladly accepted the challenge posed by Japan’s Kazuto Ioka who recently successfully defended his World Boxing Organization (WBO) super flyweight title.

“I’m so happy to hear my name from another fellow world champion,” the 29-year-old pride of Panabo City told Businessmirror on Sunday. “I’m open to a world title unification, I’d like to fight him.”

Ioka (27-2 record with 15 knockouts) beat Mexican Francisco Rodriguez by unanimous in a grueling and no holds barred fight last Wednesday in Japan to keep his crown. He immediately called on the Philippine Navy reservist Ancajas for a unification fight.

“I’m willing to fight him anytime and anywhere, but it’s up to my promoter,” Ancajas said.

But Manny Pacquiao’s MP Promotions President Sean Gibbons said an Ancajas-ioka unification fight would have to wait until early next year after Ancajas defends his belt for the 10th time against a still to be determined opponent in November in the US.

“We welcome that fight, we love that fight, but Jerwin’s schedule is to fight in the US in November and we welcome the unification after,” Gibbons said. “We’re still looking for what we have for Jerwin.”

Trained and managed by Joven Jimenez, Ancajas (33-1-2 record with 22 knockouts) has gone home to Bukidnon after frustrating Mexican Jonathan Javier Rodriguez’s challenge by unanimous decision last April 10 in Connecticut.

“I have to be ready anytime that’s why I am conditioning and training hard here in Bukidnon,” Ancajas said, adding they would immediately fly to the US once Jimenez renewed his US visa next week in Manila. “I have to improve my stamina, punching power and speed.”

Only Ioka posed a challenge to Ancajas, unlike World Boxing Council champion Juan Francisco Estrada of Mexico and American World Boxing Association titlist Joshua Franco of the US who have yet to call out to the Filipino ring star.