Japanese boxer Kazuto Ioka (left) and Filipino champion Jerwin Ancajas.
MANILA, Philippines—The postponed unification bout between IBF super flyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas and WBO titleholder Kazuto Ioka of Japan will likely push through in May.
Joven Jimenez, Ancajas’ trainer and manager, said the Filipino pugilist will first have to defend his title against Argentina’s Fernando Martinez in February before they take on Ioka.
“First we have to defend the title against Martinez then after that we hold the unification against Ioka,” said Jimenez in Filipino.
“That’s why we’re still focused right now because it would be nearly a year since Jerwin fought.”
Ancajas (33-1-2), who wil make his 10th defense of the title against Martinez, and Ioka were originally scheduled to face each other on New Year’s Eve but the fight was postponed after Japan closed its borders due to the Omicron variant of COVID-19.
This prompted the Filipino’s team to set up the match against the undefeated Martinez (13-0) for February 2022, 10 months after Ancajas scored a unanimous decision win over Jonathan Rodriguez in April.
Jimenez added that Ancajas could move up to bantamweight if he succeeds against Ioka.
“If we get lucky then we’ll go up to 118 pounds,” said Jimenez.