TOKYO – Not having a Filipino world champion at the moment is one thing that gets Jerwin Ancajas going for his faceoff against Takuma Inoue on Saturday at the Kokugikan Arena.
The 32-year-old Ancajas said wresting the WBA title belt from Inoue will certainly restore Philippine boxing pride.
“Bilang Pilipino na boksingero, masakit din na isipin na sa tagal-tagal ng panahon, ngayon pa lang ako nakaranas na wala tayong (world) champion. E halos 13 years na rin ako as a professional (boxer),” said Ancajas.
“Nung panahon ni Sir Manny (Pacquiao), nakapag-champion ako. Marami akong kasabay, tig-lima, apat kaming sabay-sabay.”
He was referring to the time when Pacquiao, Nonito Donaire, Pedro Taduran, and him reigned as world champions in 2019.
Last year, Melvin Jerusalem and Marlon Tapales both failed to retain their respective world crowns, leaving the country without a legitimate world champion.
Ancajas on a mission
Now, Ancajas wants to get the ball rolling for the Philippines.
“Ngayon wala tayong world champion,” said the native of Panabo, Davao del Norte. “Kaya isa rin yun sa nagbibigay sa akin ng motivation na maging world champion ulit.”
Ancajas last reigned as a world champ in 2021 when he defended his IBF super-flyweight title for the ninth and last time against Jonathan Hernandez with a unanimous decision in Mohegan, Connecticut.
He eventually lost his title the following year to Fernando Martinez of Argentina in Cosmopolitan, Las Vegas in a close decision.
Ancajas failed to regain the belt after a similar loss to the Argentinian eight years later, prompting his camp to move him up to the bantamweight division.
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