Ancajas ecstatic for historic bout vs Sultan

MANILA, Philippines – IBF super flyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas is raring to make history with countryman Jonas Sultan when they collide on May 26 (May 27 Manila time) at the Save Mart Center in Fresno, California.

This will mark the first time two Filipinos will clash for a world title in almost a century, and the 26-year-old Ancajas is elated to play a huge part in it.

“I am so glad and very grateful that I was given an opportunity to fight Jonas Sultan,” Ancajas (27-1-1, with 19 KOs) said in a news release from his promoter, Top Rank Inc.

The Magallanes, Cavite-based boxer will put his title on the line against Sultan, the No. 1 ranked contender from Cebu City. The latter earned the title shot when he outpointed former flyweight champion John Riel Casimero in their eliminator last year.

The last time two Filipinos fought for a world title was on May 2, 1925, when boxing great Francisco Guilledo, popularly known as “Pancho Villa,” defended his flyweight crown against Clever Sencio in Manila.

Now Ancajas said it’s up to him and Sultan to put on a show to remember.

“We are given a chance to display our talents on a world stage, two Filipinos fighting for a world title. This is history, and our names will be linked forever,” he added.

Anjacas seeks to o further build on the momentum of his rousing US debut in February when he knocked out Israel Vazquez in his fourth title defense. Prior to that, he has defended his title three times in different parts of the world — against Jose Alfredo Rodriguez in Macau; Teiru Kinoshita in Brisbane, Australia; and Jamie Conlan in Belfast, Ireland.

Sultan, for his part, is riding on a five-fight winning streak — winning four bouts by knockout— since a 10-round unanimous decision loss to Go Onaga in 2015.