Jerwin Ancajas. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
As though there’s nothing more urgent to pursue, the International Boxing Federation (IBF) will proceed with the All-Filipino world super flyweight title bout between champion Jerwin Ancajas and mandatory challenger Jonas Sultan.
The Pinoy versus Pinoy world super flyweight championship is slated in Las Vegas on May 27.
Games and Amusement Board chair Abraham Mitra, saying he hoped the fight should’ve been avoided, announced on Thursday he’s not going to Las Vegas to watch the bout.
There’s the question on whether the fight between two Filipino boxers, the first in nearly a century, would be good or bad for Philippines boxing.
A random poll of street fans bared that not too many boxing followers hereabouts are too comfortable with the match-up.
It could’ve have been avoided if Ancajas had agreed to pay Sultan a $20,000 step-aside fee.
Both the ALA Boxing Stable which handles Sultan and the Ancajas camp were eager to proceed with the mandatory match.
Ancajas has himself described Sultan as an unpredictable talent, a riddle who fires and attacks from various angles.
That only means the May 27 bout could bring out the best from the two Filipino warriors.
Ancajas will be making a fifth defense of his 118-pound world title, after having beaten four foreign challengers.
Dr. Ed de la Vega, who furnishes special mouthpiece to Filipino boxers fighting around California and Las Vegas said it’s silly to reject the all-Filipino world title bout out of sentimentality.
“This is a hurt business, and it’s crazy to reject the bout due to patriotic fervor and sentimentality,” De la Vega said.
He added that Mexicans fighting fellow Mexicans are as popular as taco out in Mexico.
Mitra said the only good thing he sees is that the IBF super flyweight crown would remain in the hands of a Filipino after the Pinoy vs Pinoy championship.
If it’s good or bad, the answer would come out clear only after they are done with the show.