FORMER world champion Jerwin “The Pretty Boy” Ancajas — who was supposed to fight in the Manny Pacquiao-Mario Barrios fight card — finally got an opportunity to return to the ring in the United States.
Ancajas will be fighting Uruguay’s dangerous knockout artist Ruben Dario Casero on Aug. 2 in a super bantamweight eight-round clash at the Thunder Studios, Long Beach California, for his third fight in the 122-pound field.
“They already informed me of that fight prior to the fight week between Manny Pacquiao and Mario Barrios. All good so far in my training and conditioning,” the 33-year-old ex-International Boxing Federation super flyweight king said.
“My opponent is so aggressive that is why I must always be cautious.” Ancajas (36-4-2 win-loss-draw record with 24 knockouts) and head trainer coach Joven Jimenez had helped middleweight campaigner and two-time Olympian Eumir Felix Marcial in his preparation and battle against American Bernard Joseph last Sunday.
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Marcial beat Joseph in a third-round technical knockout victory.
“We are just there helping Eumir and supporting Senator Manny. I am glad that finally I have a fight,” Ancajas added. “I thought I [would] be fighting at the MGM Grand at the fight card’s main event, but God has a greater purpose.” International matchmaker and Manny Pacquiao’s MP Promotions President Sean Gibbons said that the Nevada Athletic State Commission had turned down the different opponents of Ancajas many times that made him unavailable for Pacquiao’s card.
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“Finally, Jerwin will be fighting for his third super bantamweight bout. This is another steppingstone for him to fight for a world title,” Gibbons said. “He spent his time here in the US training alongside Pacquiao, Marcial and Mark Magsayo. We cannot wait more to see him fight.” “One of the final steps for Jerwin being able to move into another world title opportunity and it is first in the 122 pounds, but he must win this fight. It is a very crucial fight,” Gibbons added.
Under the 122-pound class, Ancajas of Panabo, Davao del Norte, was unstoppable since beating Thai Sukpasried Ponphitak via disqualification and Richie Mepranum via second-round knockout victory.
Casero, 32, however, is coming off a sixth-round technical knockout win over Federico Andres Penarrieta of Argentina last May to improve his win-loss record to 13-4 with five knockouts.
