Ancajas finally back home

It’s been eight years since former IBF superflyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas fought at home and attempting a bold comeback after losing three of his last four bouts, he returns on local soil against Thai veteran Sukpraserd Ponpitak in a scheduled 10-round bout on the Melvin Jerusalem-Luis Castillo undercard at the Mandaluyong City College tonight.

Ancajas, 32, is making his debut as a featherweight and determined to rebound from a ninth-round knockout loss to WBA bantamweight titlist Takuma Inoue in Tokyo last February. His last 13 bouts were held overseas as he invaded rings in the US, Mexico, Northern Ireland, Macau and Australia. Ancajas’ homecoming is long overdue.

Ponpitak, 36, has experience on his side with 49 fights under his belt compared to Ancajas’ 40. The Thai’s record is 30-19, with 20 KOs and eight of his victims were Filipinos. In 2015, Ponpitak traveled to Davao and lost to Mark Magsayo on a fifth-round stoppage. He’s no stranger to foreign rings with previous outings in Malaysia, Dubai, Japan, Korea, China, Russia, Australia, Tanzania and the Philippines. Ponpitak is coming off a win by majority decision over Armenia’s Mikael Arutyunyan in Bangkok last June.

For Ancajas, losing isn’t an option. He reigned as IBF superflyweight champion from 2016 to 2022, losing the crown on his 10th defense to Argentina’s Fernando Martinez. Ancajas failed to regain the title in a rematch, bounced back to halt Wilmer Soto then bowed to Inoue. His record is 34-4-2, with 23 KOs. Long-time coach/trainer Joven Jimenez and Alexis Abillar will be in Ancajas’ corner for the Ponpitak fight.

Ancajas’ motivation is dedicating the fight to his growing family. Last Thursday, his wife Ruth gave birth to their fifth child Justin Kerwin at the Tanza Specialists Medical Center in Cavite. His other children are Kyrie 11, Kyle nine, Jackey Kiera six and Jazz Klay one. Ancajas is out to celebrate the birth of his fifth child with a victory tonight.