By Steve Kim
IBF junior bantamweight titlist Jerwin Ancajas (29-1-1, 20 KOs) is scheduled to face his mandatory challenger Jonas Sultan (14-3, 9 KOs).
The contest was originally targeted for the Terence Crawford-Jeff Horn card on April 14 - but that card fell out when Crawford suffered a hand injury. So just where and when will this all-Filipino championship battle take place?
Sean Gibbons, who works with the talented southpaw advised BoxingScene.com - "At the moment we're waiting for our promoter Top Rank, Bob Arum has a tremendous vision coming up for Jerwin. He sees Jerwin fighting in the California market, up in San Francisco, maybe Los Angeles. That's his target to bring Jerwin to the next step in his development as the next Filipino superstar in the United States."
As for when Ancajas-Sultan will take place,Gibbons stated - "I foresee the fight happening in late May or in the beginning of June, in that time frame and we've had discussions with Bob, with Jerwin's management - Joven Sports - with Manny (Pacquiao), the markets in California are big. I was privileged enough to do a fight there with Albert Pagara and Cesar Juarez in Daly City.
"It was tremendous, the turnout was 3,500, 4,000 people and it's just a very condensed market for Filipino's in that area, compared to working in L.A. where everything is so spread out and you go up against so many other events in the L.A. area and I think it's just a natural in the development of bringing Jerwin to the U.S."
In his last fight on February 3rd, Ancajas successfully defended his title by stopping Israel Gonzalez in ten rounds in Corpus Christi, Texas, which was televised on ESPN. Now he faces his Sultan, who is a friendly rival of his.
"That fight is lined, signed and ready to go," said Gibbons
Steve Kim is the news editor for BoxingScene.com.
