MANILA, Philippines — IBF junior bantamweight champion Jerwin Ancajas will get a rare chance to unify titles, putting his title on the line against WBO belt holder Kazuto Ioka of Japan in a unification bout at the Ota-City General Gymnasium in Tokyo on Dec. 31.
Ancajas (33-1-2, 22 KOs), who has defended his title nine times, is raring to move one step closer to being the top 115-pound fighter in the world with another belt on his waist on New Year’s Eve.
“This is my dream fight. I have waited six years for a signature fight to prove to everyone in boxing that I am one of the best 115 pounders in the world,” Ancajas said.
But the fighter from Panabo City faces a tough test against Ioka (27-2, 15 KOs), a four-division world champion who has held world titles at minimumweight, junior flyweight, flyweight, and junior bantamweight divisions dating back to 2011.
Ancajas last fought in April, beatting Jonathan Javier Rodriguez.