Jerwin Ancajas in ‘all or nothing’ fight against Ruben Casero

JERWIN Ancajas is out to make up for lost time.

Two weeks after being left out of the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao-Mario Barrios welterweight title clash, Ancajas steps in the ring to face Ruben Dario Casero of Uruguay in an eight-round super-bantamweight bout at the Thunder Studios in Long Beach, California.

Ancajas was supposed to see action in the Pacquiao-Barrios World Boxing Council championship headliner, but the Nevada State Athletic Commission turned down several potential opponents, ironically, including Casero.

READ Why Jerwin Ancajas never fought in Pacquiao-Barrios undercard

But Nevada’s counterpart in California was more than willing to clear and host the fight, paving the way for Ancajas’ first fight back in the US in two years.

MP Promotions president and matchmaker Sean Gibbons believes Casero (13-4, 5 KOs) will be a good test for the former International Boxing Federation super-flyweight title holder as he continues to move up in the 122-pound division.

“Very tough, durable guy,” said Gibbons of the 32-year-old native of Colonia, Uruguay. “I believe he’ll give Jerwin good rounds.”

Ancajas, 33, lost in his last bid for a world title in a ninth-round stoppage at the hands of Takuma Inoue for the World Boxing Association bantamweight belt.

The Filipino struggled to make weight in the 12-round bout held in Tokyo, Japan last year, resulting in only his fourth loss in 42 fights (24 KOs).

At the moment, Ancajas appears to have his weight in check as he tips in at 125 lbs for the Casero fight where the limit is at 124.

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But the native of Panabo City, who currently stays at the California home of Pacquiao, can’t afford to lose this one, according to Gibbons.

“This fight means everything. It’s all or nothing,” said the MP Promotions official. “You can’t afford to lose in a fight like this. Jerwin needs to come out of it with a win.”