By Steve Kim
This past weekend at the SSE Arena in Belfast, IBF super flyweight belt-holder, Jerwin Ancajas, impressively dispatched of Jamie Conlan to improve his record to 28-1-1 (19 KO's). He served notice that he's an impressive young champion who has big things ahead of him.
Sean Gibbons, the matchmaker for Manny Pacquiao Promotions tells BoxingScene.com - "I think the future is very, very bright, I said early on in Jerwin's career when we did a lot of fights in Macao underneath Zou Shiming, underneath Manny Pacquiao, the guy just had the 'it' factor from the get got.
"Then I really saw it when he beat Mc Joe Arroyo, who at the time was one of the top five guys in the world. He was a world champion and Jerwin in his first big test beat McJoe."
Ancajas defeated the Puerto Rican last September and has now made three successful defenses of that IBF belt.
"Over the last few fights he's just matured more and more and like I told people, there's never going to be another Manny Pacquiao but Jerwin Ancajas has a chance to be the closest thing to do that," Ancajas said.
As for the future many wonder if he'll be a part of the 'SuperFly' series on HBO which features the deep and talented 115-pound class.
"So now looking at 2018, I'd put Jerwin into that top five of the 115-pound, super fly division," stated Gibbons.
"You have the Thai fighter (Srisaket Sor Rungvisai), you have Juan Francisco Estrada, you have 'the Monster' (Naoyo Inoue), who just everyone is knocking over everyone saying is the best. But I'm not sure yet because he really hasn't taken on the likes of an Estrada or any of the other top guys. He has looked great, he has beat the guys that have been in front of him."
Another edition of 'SuperFly' is scheduled for HBO in the first quarter of the upcoming year with Sor Rungvisai scheduled to defend his WBC belt against Estrada.
"So Ancajas could absolutely jump into that, of course. I have to speak to our promoter, Manny Pacquiao, I've got to speak to the manager, Joven Jimenez and see what they want to do. But 2018 looks very bright for the future of the Philippines, they have a fighter they can get behind. Anytime a fighter hits the road and tackles America like Manny did, that's where it's at," said Gibbons.
"That's where everybody wants to be. I think things look very good for Jerwin."
Steve Kim is the news editor for BoxingScene.com.
