FORMER world champion Jerwin Ancajas was left out in the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao-Mario Barrios welterweight title showdown after training alongside the Filipino boxing legend for weeks heading to the July 19 headline at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Apparently, the Nevada Athletic State Commission turned down several of the opponents lined up against the 33-year-old Ancajas, to the point that no fight could be made in time for the Pacquiao-Barrios match for the World Boxing Council crown, according to MP Promotions president Sean Gibbons.
Initially, Ancajas was one of three Filipinos included in the undercard along with former world champion Mark Magsayo and two-time Olympian Eumir Marcial.
READ Ancajas, Magsayo, Marcial to fight in Pacquiao-Barrios undercard
Magsayo scored a unanimous decision against Mexican Jorge Mata in a 10-round super-featherweight clash, while Marcial, a bronze medalist in the Tokyo Olympics, pulled off a third-round TKO against American Bernard Joseph in a middleweight bout.
Belated as it may be, but Ancajas will finally return to the ring two weeks later as he’s set to fight Ruben Dario Casero of Panama on August 2.
Away from the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas, the former International Boxing Federation super-flyweight king will fight at the Thunder Studios in Long Beach, California, making his third bout in the super-bantamweight division.
“Finally, Jerwin will be fighting for his third-super bantamweight bout. It’s another stepping stone for him to fight for a world title,” Gibbons said. “He spent his time in the US training alongside Pacquiao, Marcial, and Magsayo. We cannot wait more to see him fight.”
Ancajas said he’s been notified about the new date for his ring return during fight week of Pacquiao-Barrios.
“All good so far in my training and conditioning,” said the native of Panabo, Davao Del Norte.
While in Vegas, Ancajas (36-4-2, with 24 KOs) and head trainer Joven Jimenez helped Marcial in his training and manned his corner during his bout against Joseph.
“We are just there helping Eumir and supporting Senator Manny. I am glad that finally I have a fight,” Ancajas added. “I thought I will be fighting at the MGM Grand as part of the undercard, but God has a greater purpose.”
Since his failed bid for the World Boxing Association bantamweight title last year against Takuma Inoue, Ancajas has been on a two-fight win streak, stopping Thai Sukpasried Ponphitak via disqualification and destroying compatriot Richie Mepranum via a second round knockout.
Casero, 32, however, is coming off a sixth-round technical knockout win over Federico Andres Penarrieta of Argentina last May to improve his record to 13-4, with five KOs.
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