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Ancajas-Sor Rungvisai junior-bantam unification bout soon to become a reality
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 11 Oct 2018
The much-awaited Jerwin Ancajas-Srisaket Sor Rungvisai junior-bantamweight unification fight is believed to have been finally shaped up over the weekend following the latter’s successful defense of his World Boxing Council version of the 115-pound title in Bangkok.
The 26-year-old Ancajas, holder of the International Boxing Federation belt, traveled to Bangkok on Saturday to be ringside of the Impact Arena to watch Thai national hero keep the plum with a one-sided victory over Mexico’s Iran Diaz.
And most importantly to set the stage for that possible unification encounter with the WBC titleholder. After the fight, Ancajas (30-1-2 20 KOs) even joined Sor Rungvisai (46-4-1, 40 KOs) atop the ring during awarding of the championship belt.
Ancajas has defended his title in China, Australia, Northern Ireland and three times in the United States. He said he would have no problem fighting in Thailand or wherever a unification fight with Sor Rungvisai could be made.
"I came to Thailand Saturday night to watch with my own eyes the champion from Thailand fight," Ancajas said as reported by EPN senior writer Dan Rafael.
"I liked what I saw. He is my style. I would be the matador versus the bull. He comes right at you and wants to trade big punches. I do not like fighters that move a lot so Sor Rungvisai is the perfect fight for me,” he said.
"I have been waiting a long time for a fight like this. I spoke to my promoters Joven Sports, Manny Pacquiao (of MP Promotions) and Mr. Bob Arum of Top Rank Boxing and told them please get me this fight next," Ancajas, who has held his IBF bel for more than two years, said.
That was longer than any other titlist in the division. The Filipino southpaw has also made six successful defenses, but so far the unification fight he wants has eluded him.
Ancajas visit to Bangkok offered a glimmer of hope that his dream of uniting the division will come to fruition in the not-too-distant future.
Sor Rungvisai himself has said time and again that he is willing to fight the top-caliber opponent and has , in fact, had major fights, including a March 2017 fight of the year candidate controversial majority decision over then-undefeated pound-for-pound king Roman "Chocolatito" Gonzalez at Madison Square Garden in New York on the Gennady Golovkin-Daniel Jacobs undercard.
Sor Rungvisai, also a southpaw, brutally knocked out Gonzalez in the fourth round of an immediate rematch in September 2017 in Carson, California. He scored a third significant win in a row in the United States when he retained his belt by an action-packed majority decision over Juan Francisco Estrada in February before opting to return home for his past two bouts.
Ancajas, on the other hand, has not had the chance to face high-profile opponents and he is coming off a hard-fought split draw against Alejandro Santiago on Sept. 28 in Oakland, California, on a Top Rank Boxing on ESPN+ card.
Bank Thainchai Pisitwuttinan of Nakornloung Promotion, which represents Sor Rungvisai, said their team is also interested in the unification fight.
"I think it would be a great fight," he said. "As of right now we do not know the future on what would be the next fight for Srisaket. (Ancajas) would be a great fight for sure.“
“We would like to have lots of great fights to create history for Thailand but it would be very interesting. I'd like to thank them for flying all the way from the Philippines," he said.
“Mr. Sean Gibbons also flew from the U.S. to be here with us. It's a great honor for us to see them and to have them with us at the event, Pisitwutdtinan,” remarked in reference to Ancajas’ agent.
Gibbons said the whole Ancajas team is game, too, for the unification bout, adding, "Jerwin is looking to fight the best. He wants a signature fight. He watched the champ from ringside Saturday night and loves the fight.”
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