If IBF super flyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas hurdles past his title defense on April 10 against Jonathan Javier Rodriguez of Mexico, the next possible opponent would be Thai superstar Srisaket Sor Rungvisai.
MP Promotions president Sean Gibbons said they have been eyeing an Ancajas fight against the former WBC super flyweight champion, and they would continue to pursue that path.
“That’s always a fight that Jerwin likes. I hope he gets that, we love that fight,” Gibbons said, adding that he already reached out to Rungvisai’s handlers led by Eddie Hearn.
The 29-year-old Ancajas will face Rodriguez at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.
This will be the first fight for the Panabo City native in more than a year since he knocked out in the sixth round Chile’s Miguel Gonzalez back in December 7, 2019 in Mexico, which improved his ring record to 32 wins, 22 by way of knockout, with one loss and two draws.
Ancajas is going up against an opponent that also won the previous fight as the 25-year-old Rodriguez defeated compatriot Julian Yedras last December 4, 2020 in Las Lomas, Monterrey.
He sports a ring record of 22 wins, 16 in KOs and one loss.
Gibbons understands that anything can happen in the Ancajas-Rodriguez bout, although he is confident that the Filipino fighter would come out victorious against the Mexican.
“We never look past anybody, but I feel we’re gonna win. “We’re absolutely targeting the gentleman from Thailand. He’s kind of an odd man out now, because he was supposed to have a rematch with Juan Estrada.”
Rungvisai relinquished his WBC super flyweight belt to Mexican Juan Francisco Estrada, who won via a unanimous decision at The Forum in Los Angeles back in April 2019.
The 34-year-old Rungvisai (50-5-1) was victorious in his last three fights, but he wasn’t able to get a rematch against Estrada, who is set to battle for the third time Nicaragua’s Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez.
Gibbons said Ancajas is actually ready to face anybody.
“There has been a lot of criticism that he has not fought the top guys. Well, we’re ready now. It’s not our fault before. For various reasons we couldn’t get the fight together,” he said.
This coming fight against Rodriguez is astepping-stone for Ancajas to get to Rungvisai, and probably Gonzales and Estrada, the reigning WBC and WBA super flyweight champion.