Japanese may be next for Ancajas
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 02 Oct 2018
OAKLAND. It may not be WBC superflyweight champion Srisaket Sor Rungvisai who?ll face IBF titleholder Jerwin Ancajas next, after all. And a rematch with Alejandro Santiago is highly unlikely. Instead, Ancajas? succeeding opponent could be Japan?s Ryuichi Funai, the IBF No. 3 contender who?s the upcoming mandatory challenger.
Ancajas? manager Joven Jimenez said yesterday a mandatory defense is due and Funai is the highest-ranked contender since the No. 1 and No. 2 slots are vacant in the IBF honor roll. Jimenez said Ancajas won?t fight again this year and his next bout will be in either January or February.
?Jerwin needs to rest,? said Jimenez in Pilipino. ?He went 12 hard rounds with Santiago. This year, Jerwin went 10 rounds with (Israel) Gonzalez and 12 with (Jonas) Sultan. His last two fights were difficult so he needs time to recover before going back to the gym.?
Jimenez said if Rungvisai wants to force the issue and battle Ancajas in a unification showdown, that will be an option, too. ?It depends on what (matchmaker) Sir Sean (Gibbons) and Top Rank decide,? said Jimenez. ?We?ll fight whomever they want, whether it?s Funai or Rungvisai or even Santiago. We?ll be ready for anyone. We know every fight will be difficult for Jerwin. He?s exposed. All his fights are on YouTube for anyone to study. Every challenger will come prepared.?
There is talk that after Rungvisai takes care of Mexican challenger Iran Diaz in Thailand on Oct. 6, he will face former world flyweight champion Juan Francisco Estrada in a rematch. In their first meeting last February, Rungvisai beat Estrada via a majority 12-round decision. But Rungvisai has reportedly expressed a preference to fight Ancajas in a unification duel and whoever wins will defend against Estrada. Jimenez said if that?s what?s on the table, Ancajas won?t back off.
Funai, 33, has won his last six outings to raise his record to 30-7, with 21 KOs. The 5-7 Japanese is coming off an eighth round stoppage of Filipino Warlito Parrenas for the vacant WBO Asia Pacific superflyweight crown in Tokyo. He has also beaten another Filipino Ryan Bito. But of his seven losses, one was to Filipino Rolly Lunas who scored a ninth round knockout in 2012. Three of Funai?s seven defeats were inside the distance. Funai turned pro in 2005, four years before Ancajas? debut. He has figured in 37 bouts, four more than Ancajas.
A rematch with Santiago is a remote possibility. Santiago held Ancajas to a split 12-round draw at the Oracle Arena here Friday night. Jimenez said Ancajas couldn?t have lost more than five rounds in the bout as he dominated the action from the start. Jimenez said Ancajas has difficulty with smaller opponents who like to fight in-and-out. Santiago is 5-2 1/2 compared to the 5-6 Ancajas. Srisaket is 5-3 while Funai is 5-7. Based on height alone, Funai could be a leading candidate as Ancajas? next opponent particularly as he?s the mandatory challenger.
IBF superflyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas and his manager Joven Jimenez arrived at the NAIA 1 terminal yesterday morning.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
The Second Rise of Jesse Espinas
By Carlos Costa, Fri, 04 Jul 2025Boxing Golden Age Comparison - Philippines and Japan
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Fri, 04 Jul 2025Kittipong, Magdalena, Kim, Kritiphak Claim Wins in Brico Santig's Show in Bangkok
By Carlos Costa, Fri, 04 Jul 2025Kremlev, Crawford, Fury Launch IBA's Golden Era of International Boxing
Fri, 04 Jul 2025International Master Angelo Young stays on course for GM norm
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 04 Jul 2025Robby Gonzales and Yoseline Perez Progress to Semifinals at World Boxing Cup: Astana 2025
Fri, 04 Jul 2025Fireworks Ahead: Magsayo vs Mata in Prelims of Pacquiao vs Barrios
By Carlos Costa, Thu, 03 Jul 2025Japan's Boxing Golden Age Remains Limited to the Lower Weights
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Thu, 03 Jul 2025No issues with fight ref
By Joaquin Henson, Thu, 03 Jul 2025Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimàn: Grand Muay Thai event in Verona
By Mauricio Sulaimán, Thu, 03 Jul 2025Morelle McCane and Rene Camacho Advance to Quarterfinals of World Boxing Cup: Astana 2025
Thu, 03 Jul 20253 Division World Champion & Hall of Famer Marco Antonio Barrera Confirmed for Eighth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Mexican Independence Day Weekend, Saturday September 13, in Las Vegas
Thu, 03 Jul 2025ESPN Original Series The Fight Life Returns for Season Two on July 7
Wed, 02 Jul 2025TOP-RATED LIGHTWEIGHT KO ARTIST ARMANDO MARTINEZ RABI RETURNS
Wed, 02 Jul 2025Amazing Muay Thai WBC Festival 2025
Wed, 02 Jul 2025