MANILA, Philippines — The search for IBF superflyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas’ next challenger may be coming to an end as a reliable source revealed yesterday that undefeated No. 13 contender Fernando Martinez of Argentina could be in line to engage the Filipino in making the 10th defense of his crown, possibly on Feb. 5 at a still undisclosed US venue. Ancajas was booked to face WBO counterpart Kazuto Ioka in a unification duel in Tokyo on Dec. 31 but the fight was cancelled due to the Japanese government’s order to shut down borders in an anti-COVID precautionary measure.
Ancajas has been training in Los Angeles since September and would’ve left for Tokyo last Dec. 11. He’ll spend the holidays in the US with manager/trainer Joven Jimenez. Ioka has found a replacement for Ancajas to keep his New Year’s Eve date and will face No. 8 contender Ryoji Fukunaga instead. MP Promotions president Sean Gibbons said the Ancajas-Ioka showdown will eventually take place sometime next year.
Martinez, 30, has a rich amateur background and saw action in the AIBA World Series of Boxing from 2010 to 2017. He dropped a 2-1 decision to Bulgaria’s Daniel Asenov in the round of 32 in the flyweight division at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Martinez was 26 when he turned pro in 2017 and has since compiled a 13-0 record, with eight KOs. His most recent outing was in Dubai last August when he stopped Mexico’s Gonzalo Garcia Duran in the fourth round. Martinez has a valid US visa and can travel anytime.
The IBF will allow Ancajas an optional defense against any of the top 15 contenders as he’s coming off a successful mandatory over Mexico’s Jonathan Rodriguez. The top two slots in the ratings are vacant and No. 3 Mohammed Obbadi of Morocco is ticketed to meet No. 7 Jade Bornea, a Filipino, in a title eliminator. No. 4 Francisco Rodriguez lost to Ioka last September and has been sparring with Ancajas at the Wild Card Gym so he’s not a viable challenger. Ancajas will celebrate his 30th birthday on Jan. 1 and has a 33-1-2 record, with 22 KOs.