Ancajas tiff vs Sultan set May 26

The postponement of their title duel in Las Vegas turned out to be a blessing for Filipinos Jerwin Ancajas and Jonas Sultan.

From chief support as originally scheduled on April 14, their battle for Ancajas’ International Boxing Federation junior bantamweight title on May 26 will now be the main event of a fight card being put up by Top Rank Promotions in partnership with global cable and satellite sports television channel ESPN.

Matchmaker Sean Gibbons, who’s still in the United States,  relayed the development to Joven Jimenez, Ancajas’ trainer-manager, on Tuesday morning after a meeting with Top Rank honcho Bob Arum.

According to Jimenez, Ancajas’ fifth title defense against Sultan of ALA Boxing Stable will be held at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.

The Ancajas-Sultan tussle was supposed to be the main supporting bout of the Terence Crawford-Jeff Horn showdown for the World Boxing Organization welterweight crown at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.

The unbeaten Crawford, however, suffered a right hand injury during training and the bout was moved to June 9 at MGM Grand, also in Las Vegas.

Ancajas has been in constant training at their Survival Camp in Magallanes, Cavite, and will intensify his preparations in the coming weeks.

Ancajas, who boasts 29 wins with 20 knockouts against one loss and one draw, has been installed favorite against Sultan (14-3, with 9 KOs).   —ROY LUARCA