Jerwin Ancajas Set for IBF Mandatory Eliminator Against Former World Champ Ryosuke Nishida; Winner Fights Naoya Inoue
By Carlos Costa
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 11 Sep 2025
Jerwin with awesome chance! Yes indeed, popular Filipino former champ Jerwin “Pretty Boy” Ancajas is gearing up for a crucial bout against Japanese Ryosuke Nishida in an IBF 12-round super bantamweight eliminator.
The winner will earn the direct ticket to challenge none other than Japanese undisputed, undefeated super bantamweight champion “Monster” Naoya Inoue (30-0, 27 KOs).
The IBF has ordered Ancajas vs Nishida, with representatives from both camps required to finalize negotiations by September 23.
If a deal isn't reached, a purse bid will be ordered. Hopefully, that won’t be necessary.
“Pretty Boy” Ancajas – who is ranked No. 5 by the IBF – is riding high after scoring a well-deserved majority decision win over tough Uruguay Rubén Darío Casero (13-5, 5 KOs) some weeks ago in Long Beach, California.
Jerwin Ancajas (37-4-2, 24 KOs), the former 115-pound world champion from beautiful Panabo in Davao del Norte, is looking to make a statement in the 122-pound division, and his many fans believe he can do it, I think he can do it!
With 24 knockouts under his belt, Ancajas, 37, will aim to use his excellent boxing skills and decent punching power to outclass the southpaw Nishida.
Meanwhile, Nishida, ranked No. 8 by the IBF, is also a former IBF world champion.
The 29-year-old Nishida of Osaka was the former IBF 118-pound champion who lost his red and golden title with a 5th-round TKO loss to súper awesome Junto Nakatani last June. No shame on that. We all know that Nakatani (31-0, 24 KOs) is something else.
The 10-1 Nishida with only 2 KOs in his record will look to bounce back from that rough night against Nakatani by spoiling Ancajas' plans to become the mandatory challenger to Inoue.
Could Nishida spoil Ancajas’ plans?
We will find out, bearing in mind that Jerwin is more experienced, confident and punches much much harder, plus Jerwin has coach Joven Jimenez on his side!! 👍
A win for Ancajas would set him up for a world title shot against Naoya Inoue, who is set to defend his belts against Uzbek former world champ Murodjan Akhmadaliev (14-1, 11 KOs) this Sunday in Nagoya. Honestly, Morodjan in a very good boxer. but fans expect another electrifying knockout win for “Monster!”
With his impressive record and skillset, Ancajas and his team and is confident he can make a deep run in the super bantamweight division.
Jerwin is guided by the experienced and friendly Sean Gibbons, owner of the Knuckleheads Boxing Gym in Las Vegas.
Meanwhile, Nishida is handled by promoter Takashi Edagawa of Osaka’s Muto Promotions.
Ancajas VS Nishida, both southpaws, is an intriguing exciting battle between two former champions that no boxing fan in Japan and The Philippines want to miss!!
Best of luck to Jerwin Ancajas, May the Best Man Win!! 🇵🇭🇯🇵🇺🇸👍🥊
The author is Carlos Costa of Cebu. carlos@philboxing.com
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Carlos Costa.
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