Ancajas tries to defy odds vs Japanese champ Takuma Inoue

Ancajas hopes to use his experience against the Japanese world champion

Feb 18, 2024

JERWIN Ancajas departed for Japan early Sunday morning, carrying his hopes of returning home next week as a world champion once again.

The 32-year-old Filipino is scheduled to challenge Takuma Inoue on Feb. 24 for the WBA bantamweight championship in Tokyo, which may be his best opportunity to win another world title.

Accompanied by his longtime trainer Joven Jimenez, Ancajas left after a simple sendoff hosted by MP Promotions President Sean Gibbons on Saturday night at the Ascott Hotel in Makati.

Hailing from Panabo City, Davao Del Norte, Ancajas is the more experienced of the two fighters. He was a former long-time IBF super-flyweight champion who successfully defended his title nine times before moving up in weight in the middle of last year.

However, Ancajas is not taking any chances, especially when fighting in enemy territory where Inoue's younger brother, Naoya Inoue, has fought throughout his 11-year professional career.

"Kapag dayo ka, kailangan dominante ka kada round," he said.

Jimenez added, "Sanay naman kami ni Jerwin kung saan-saan. Basta dayo, lagi kong sinasabi sa kanya na patay kung patay kami sa laban. Wala kaming sinasanto, laban kung laban."

Currently weighing in at around 124-123lbs, Ancajas has almost a week to prepare before the fight.

Ancajas won his first bout as a bantamweight with a fifth-round stoppage of Wilner Soto in Minnesota last June, improving his record to 34-3 with 23 knockouts.

Inoue, on the other hand, is not very active, with a record of 18-1 and only 4 knockouts.

The 28-year-old Japanese fighter is making the first defense of his 122lbs title, which he won via unanimous decision over Liborio Solis of Venezuela last year.