By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

THE year 2017 has been a solid one for Filipino world boxing champion Jerwin “Pretty Boy” Ancajas and things could get even bigger for the Davao del Norte native in the coming year as he girds for bigger challenges, including making his United States fight debut.

The reigning International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior bantamweight champion after winning the title over Puerto Rican McJoe Arroyo in September 2016, Mr. Ancajas has had three successful title defenses to date, all fashioned out in the about-to-end year.

Mr. Ancajas first defeated Mexican Jose Alfredo Rodriguez by technical knockout in January before stopping Japanese Teiru Kinoshita also by TKO in July.

Last month he TKO’d Jamie Conlan of Ireland in Belfast to make it 3-0 as a champion.

Next stop for the 25-year-old Mr. Ancajas is the United States as he makes his fight debut there.

Set for Feb. 3, the Filipino champion is to defend his IBF title against Mexican Israel Gonzalez in the co-featured fight at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas.

It something that Mr. Ancajas (28-1, with 19 KOs) and his team are very excited about, seeing how it could further open doors for the prized fighter to showcase what he is capable of.

And recognizing the significance of his recently announced fight, Mr. Ancajas said he is going about it the only way he knows how to — doing everything in preparation and not leaving anything to chance.

“I always come to every fight expecting a tough challenge because I don’t want to be complacent. This fight is no different. Like what I did in my previous fight in Belfast I will train hard for this,” said Mr. Ancajas during the press conference for his February fight last weekend at Island Cove Resort in Cavite.

“I do not know much about him (Gonzalez) but of the things we know of him he is a capable fighter and you cannot count him out,” Mr. Ancajas added as he spoke of Mr. Gonzalez (21-1, with eight KOs).

Mr. Ancajas went on to say that he is angling to build on his last victory over Mr. Conlan, saying the fight only made him a better fighter.

“I learned a lot in my last fight against Conlan in enemy territory. One of which is staying focused notwithstanding the crowd is heavily against you. You just do what you do best and not mind the boos. It is something I hope to get to use once I make my US debut,” he said.

For all the successes he has been getting of late, he has earned the praises of many boxing stakeholders both here and abroad, including Top Rank, Inc. boss Bob Arum, who even dubbed him as “the next Manny Pacquiao.”

Such is not getting into the head of the Panabo City resident however, focusing instead on bettering himself as a fighter in more ways than one.

“I’m happy they are calling me as the next Manny Pacquiao. There is pressure of course with that but I’m just going to do what needs to be done from my end. Sir Manny has achieved a lot and I’m determined to follow his lead,” Mr. Ancajas said.

Mr. Ancajas’ fight against Mr. Gonzalez will be under the main event featuring World Boxing Organization super middleweight champion Gilberto Ramirez of Mexico against Habib Ahmed of Ghana. The fight will be broadcast over ESPN.

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