Ancajas has sights on Rungvisai, not looking past April bout vs Rodriguez
FILE – Jerwin Ancajas of the Philippines gestures to fans after defeating Ryuichi Funai of Japan in their 12-round Super Flyweight IBF World Title fight in Stockton, California on May 4, 2019. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP)
MANILA, Philippines — Jerwin Ancajas has been seeking a showdown against the top names in the super flyweight class for several years now.
But his quest could finally end soon with a fight against former champion Srisaket Sor Rungvisai looming.
“I’ve spoken with Eddie Hearn about Rungvisai for a fight,” said MP Promotions president Sean Gibbons as posted on philboxing.com.
Gibbons is optimistic that a bout between Ancajas and Rungvisai would happen with the other premier fighters in the division in Juan Estrada and Roman Gonzalez headed for a potential trilogy.
Estrada edged Gonzalez by split decision on March 13 in their rematch in Dallas, Texas to keep the WBC strap.
Ancajas, though, will have to clear a hurdle first before he gets his hands on Rungvisai.
The 29-year-old Ancajas (32-1-2, 22 KOs), who has been training in the United States since October, is scheduled to defend his IBF title against Mexico’s Jonathan Rodriguez (22-1, 16 KOs) on April 10 in Connecticut.
Gibbons described Rodriguez as a “typical Mexican warrior” and expects the long-delayed encounter an explosive one. The two were originally slated to fight back in November 2019.
Ancajas, who recently left Top Rank and signed with Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions, has been raring to go especially since he has been inactive since stopping Miguel Gonzalez in December 2019 to retain his crown for the eighth time.
“We’re not looking past Rodriguez but moving forward, we want Jerwin in for a signature fight against big names and it could start with Rungvisai,” Gibbons said.
