IBF superfly champion Jerwin Ancajas stoked for Stockton

Top Rank Boxing, and ESPN+, will present IBF light heavyweight world champion Artur Beterbiev (13-0, 13 KO’s) making the second defense of his IBF world light heavyweight title in the main event, Saturday, May 4 at Stockton Arena in Stockton, California.

In the co-feature, Jerwin “Pretty Boy” Ancajas (30-1-2, 20 KO’s) will look to make defense # 7 of his IBF super flyweight title against No. 1 contender Ryuichi Funai (31-7-2, 22 KO’s).

The card will also feature a six-round lightweight bout with 18-year-old hometown hero, and Stockton native, Gabriel Flores Jr. who will battle Eduardo Pereira.

Ancajas, currently the world’s longest-reigning 115-pound world champion, was storming through the super flyweight ranks after beating McJoe Arroyo to win the title in September of 2016. However, in his last fight he was held to a draw after a tough challenge by Alejandro Santiago Barrios at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, California in September of last year.

Ancajas, promoted by Manny Pacquiao’s MP Promotions, held on to his title but it was a little too close for comfort. So, for this bout, Ancajas has been in camp since December and is looking to make a statement with an impressive win over his Tokyo, Japan based challenger.

Ancajas is looking to secure a win and will then look to challenge some of the other champions in the division that includes new WBC champ Juan Francisco Estrada, WBO champion Donnie Nietes and WBA king Kalid Yafai. But, he knows he is in front of a motivated veteran in Funai who is looking to make his mark in his first world title shot and his first fight outside of Japan.

In a recent interview, Ancjas made it clear that he is in great shape and is more than ready to make his mark in his upcoming Stockton gig and show the world that he is the best super fly in boxing.

“Since December we have been training even if we didn’t know then who we will be facing. I’m not worried of being burnt out. I’m used to it. That’s what we have been doing,” said Ancajas. “Based on what I have seen of Funai he’s a good fighter. In his last seven fights he was impressive, knocking out all his opponents. So we are not taking him lightly. We do not want to be complacent,” continued Ancajas.

And while Ancajas is undefeated in the last 7 years, and a champion since 2016, he knows it doesn’t get any easier holding on to his title as he learned in his last fight.

“We learned a lot from our previous fight. We were not able to make the adjustments to Santiago’s style during the fight as much as we wanted to”, said Ancajas, “which is why for this fight we are really doing a lot in training to be ready for everything,” he said.

Added MP Promotions matchmaker Sean Gibbons, “Jerwin is in fantastic shape and he is looking to make a statement in Stockton, he’s looking to steal the show and put on a great performance. He’s the best super flyweight in boxing and fans are going to see that on May 4th”.