Ancajas to defend title vs Gonzalez in US debut

MANILA, Philippines – IBF junior bantamweight champion Jerwin Ancajas will be making his US debut next month, defending his title against Mexico’s Israel Gonzalez at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas on February 3.

This will be the 26-year-old Ancajas’ fourth title defense and the boxer's first bout as a Top Rank fighter, having recently signed a two-year contract with the Bob Arum-led promotional firm.

“I am thrilled to have Mr. Arum and Top Rank promoting my career in the United States. As a Filipino boxer there is no higher honor than to have Mr. Arum and Top Rank Boxing promoting you,” said Ancajas in a Top Rank news release.

The Manny Pacquiao protégé is coming off a masterful six-round destruction of Irish Jamie Conlan in Belfast last November and hopes to showcase his wares in a major market. Prior to that, he has posted impressive victories over Jose Alfredo Rodriguez in Macau and Teiru Kinoshita in Brisbane, Australia.

Pacquiao believes Anjacas is destined for greater things.

“Jerwin Ancajas, the IBF junior bantamweight world champion and MP Promotions’ first world title holder, is an exciting fighter who has not reached his full potential,” said Pacquiao.

Arum, for his part, has branded Ancajas (28-1-1, with 19 KOs) as “the next Pacquiao,” saying the boxer boasts a similar exciting fighting style to the Filipino icon.

“I have had the opportunity to be ringside for Jerwin’s fights in Australia and in Macau and I see a lot of similarities to his co-promoter Manny Pacquiao,” said the veteran promoter.

“Jerwin has a killer instinct inside the ring and he is a great finisher. Just look at his record. Jerwin has only gone the distance once in his last 14 fights!” added Arum.

The Cavite City-based Ancajas will be testing his mettle against Gonzalez, a Top 10 contender who sports a record of 20-1, with 8 KOs. The fight will be the co-main event to the Gilberto Ramirez-Habib Ahmend WBO super middleweight title showdown.

The card will be televised on ESPN in the US, giving Ancajas a chance to shine in front of a big audience.

And the Filipino rising star vowed to make the most out of the oppurtunity.

“I look forward to following in the footsteps of my idol and promoter Manny Pacquiao. I want to be a champion for a long time,” said Anjacas.