Photo from Showtime Boxing Twitter
Jerwin Ancajas world title bout against Argentine Fernando Martinez will mark the 10th defense of his IBF super flyweight crown. But the clash at The Cosmopolitan will only be his first in boxing’s legendary setting of Las Vegas.
“I’m very thankful for this opportunity to realize my dream and fight here in Las Vegas,” said Ancajas (33-1-2, 22KOs), who tipped the scale at 114.5 pounds during the official weigh-in. “I’m feeling very energetic and I can’t wait to get into the ring.”
With a victory, Ancajas hopes for a chance at one of his rival champions — Japan’s Kazuto Ioka, American Jesse Rodriguez or Mexico’s Juan Francisco Estrada. The Filipino southpaw was supposed to fight Ioka on New Year’s Eve last year but the showdown got scrapped due to the Omicron variant.
“When I defend this title, then I want the unification fight next,” Ancajas said. “I’m ready to go wherever I have to in order to get that fight. But I’m definitely not overlooking Martinez.”
Martinez enters 13-0 and hungry to take his first world title.
“This isn’t my first rodeo,” Martinez said. “I’m going to take everything I’ve learned to try to become the new champion.”