FORMER world champion Jerwin ‘The Pretty Boy’ Ancajas is hoping to secure a world title shot next year after a successful 2025 campaign as a super bantamweight.
The 33-year-old former International Boxing Federation (IBF) super flyweight champion is preparing for a challenging first quarter in 2026 that includes a fight against young Japanese Ryosuke Nishida in a world title eliminator ordered by the IBF to determine Naoya Inoue’s next opponent.
‘Just patiently waiting for the right opportunity, but I must keep my body in good condition and my weight,’ Ancajas-who served as assistant to trainer and manager Joven Jimenez during Eumir Felix Marcial’s fight last month-told BusinessMirror on Thursday.
Ancajas and Jimenez helped Marcial train en route to his majority decision win against Venezuelan Eddy Colmenares in the ‘Thrilla in Manila 2’ at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Ancajas is coming off a majority decision win over Uruguay’s Ruben Dario Casero last August in Long Beach, California, that boosted his confidence since losing to Takuma Inoue for the World Boxing Association bantamweight belt in Tokyo in February 2024.
He defeated Thailand’s Sukpasried Ponphitak via disqualification in Mandaluyong City in September 2024 and fellow Filipino Richie Mepranum via second round knockout last January in Iligan City before crushing Casero last August.
Now on his third straight victory at 122 lbs, Ancajas (37-4-2 win-loss-draw record with 24 knockouts) is focusing on returning as a world champion.
Nishida, 29, is sporting a 10-2 win-loss record with two knockouts.
The reigning undisputed super bantamweight Naoya Inoue (31-0 record with 27 knockouts) will be fighting Mexican David Picasso (32-0-1 with 17 knockouts) on December 27 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
‘Jerwin will be fighting for sure by early next year at 122. Let us see what opportunity comes,’ Pacquiao’s MP Promotions head Sean Gibbons said. ‘He’s a true professional and hard worker. He will train hard and be in a top condition when that day comes.’