There’s no Filipino boxing champion at the moment.

So that will be the motivation of Jerwin Ancajas when he battles reigning WBA bantamweight champion Japanese Takuma Inoue on Saturday, Feb. 24, at the Kokugikan Arena in Tokyo.

Ancajas, 32, believes that snatching the crown from the Japanese star will put the country back on the boxing map once again after its status as one of the world’s best started to fall apart.

“Bilang Pilipino na boksingero, masakit din na isipin na sa tagal-tagal ng panahon, ngayon pa lang ako nakaranas na wala tayong (world) champion. E halos 13 years na rin ako as a professional (boxer),” said Ancajas on the side of the final presser on Thursday at the Tokyo Dome Hotel.

“Nung panahon ni Sir Manny (Pacquiao), nakapag-champion ako. Marami akong kasabay, tig-lima, apat kaming sabay-sabay.”

Perhaps, that was the time when Pacquiao, Nonito Donaire, and Pedro Taduran were still at their elements – winning one big bouts after another.

Last year alone, two champions – Melvin Jerusalem and Marlon Tapales – were dethroned, leaving the country without a champion which is a rarity.

So that’s the reason why Ancajas went to the bustling city locked and loaded.

“Kaya isa rin yun sa nagbibigay sa akin ng motivation na maging world champion ulit,” said Ancajas, who last reigned as world champ in 2021 when he kept his IBF super-flyweight title for the ninth and last time against Jonathan Hernandez following a unanimous decision in Mohegan, Connecticut.

He lost the crown two years ago to Fernando Martinez of Argentina in Cosmopolitan, Las Vegas in a close decision.

Ancajas did try to regain the title 8 years ago but was unsuccessful.