Pacman out, ‘Pretty Boy’ takes slot in undercard of Horn-Crawford

Boxer Jerwin Ancajas. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

The all-Filipino world title fight between Jerwin Ancajas and Jonas Sultan will happen sooner than expected.

With Manny Pacquio shunning a fight with Mike Alvardo in the undercard of the WBO welterweight crown showdown between Australian champion Jeff Horn and American Terence Crawford on April 14, Ancajas has been tapped by Top Rank to take over the vacated slot.

Ancajas, who was impressive in a 10th round stoppage of Mexican Israel Gonzalez on Feb. 4 in Corpus Christi, Texas, will be staking the 118-pound title for the fifth time against Sultan, the mandatory challenger.

According to head trainer Joven Jimenez, who was in Tokyo to man the corner of Ernesto Saulong in his quest for the International Boxing Federation junior featherweight title of Japanese Ryosuke Isawa Thursday night, they’re ready to stake the title against Sultan.

Ancajas (29-1-1 with 20 knockouts) has already started light training at Survival Camp in Magallanes, Cavite, and Jimenez said MP Promotions matchmaker Sean Gibbons is headed for Los Angeles to finalize the details.

This will be the first time since 1925, when Pancho Villa defended his flyweight title against Clever Sencio, that two Filipinos will dispute a world crown.