DESPITE being the underdog and fighting in hostile territory, Filipino contender Jerwin Ancajas is brimming with confidence in his bid to challenge reigning Japanese World Boxing Council bantamweight champion Takuma Inoue on Saturday at the Kogugikan Arena in Tokyo, Japan.
This was evident during his first public workout at the Teiken Boxing Gym last Tuesday, two days after he arrived in the Japanese capital, the Japanese ring website boxingnew.jp reported.
With Inoue’s father-trainer, Shingo Inoue, a former marathon runner watching closely, the Filipino southpaw shadow-boxed plus doing his time with the mitts and punching bag, according to the report.
“I have always wanted to fight in Japan,” said the Pinoy prizefigther after the workout, showing no irritation by the fact that the title fight was supposed to be held last November until it was postponed because Inoue suffered a rib injury.
“I have a lot of experience and adaptability. Most of all, I am hungry now,’’ warned Ancajas, the former International Boxing Federation super flyweight champ, who has a record of 34 wins, 23 knockout, three losses, and two draws.
He will be facing Inoue, the younger brother of illustrious fighter and undisputed world super bantamweight king Naoya “Monster” Inoue, who will be making his first title defense.
Sporting a record of 18 wins (four KOs) and one loss, the Japanese defending champion won the vacant WBA bantamweight crown by unanimous decision over Venezuelan Liborio Solis on April 8, 2023 at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo.
Teiken Boxing Gym chief Hideuyuki Ohashi, who also witnessed Ancajas’ public workout, observed that “I think he (Ancajas) is the strongest opponent for Takuma in his career because he has rhythm in his punch and snap the punch.
“Especially, he has a special aura. I think he is in the same with Mexican Ricardo Lopez and Nicaraguan Roman Gonzales. If Takuma wins the fight, he will make progress greatly.”
Lopez was a former world mini flyweight and flyweight champion while the popular “Chocolatito” Gonzales once held world title belts in the WBA minimumweight and light flyweight, flyweight and super flyweight divisions.
Given Ancajas’s record and experience, ring writer Tony Gray of Sporting News is betting on the pride of Panabo City, Davao del Norter to outpoint and outfox Inoue.
“In terms of experience, the 32-year-old Ancajas have a huge advantage. He’s had 12 world title fights compared to just two for Inoue and mixed with far better competition, “Gray note. “He’s also the type of southpaw who uses that stance to his advantage, much like (Nordine) Oubaali, who handed Inoue his only career defeat.
