Former IBF junior bantamweight king Jerwin Ancajas is going after Takuma Inoue, brother of Japanese superstar Naoya Inoue, after recently settling down in a heavier weight class.
Ancajas halted Colombian Wilner Soto in just five rounds in a tune-up fight at super bantamweight, which was his first fight above 115 pounds since losing his title to Fernando Martinez.
The Filipino said he no longer has to squeeze himself out to make the weight limit.
“Sa ngayon napakaganda ng kundisyon ko, hindi pressured sa timbang,” said Ancajas in an ABS-CBN News report. “Noong nakaraan kasi pagdating ng 118 ok pa, pero pag piga sa three pounds sa 115, doon kami nahihirapan.”
Ancajas added that he was able to calibrate his punching power just right while trading punches with the bigger Soto.
“Kasi timbang niya ang pinaglalabanan namin. Kahit tinamaan ng early rounds, hindi niya iniintindi kasi alam niya ang bigat ng suntok,” he said. “Noong nakatama tayo, medyo bumabagal siya. Noong four to five rounds, natamaan ko siya ng maganda ganda.”
Ancajas said he is now charting his path toward the WBA bantamweight championship, currently owned by Takuma. The fight is almost sure, as the camp of Ancajas is reportedly just waiting for the fight contract.
“Si Takuma kasi may belt na at nagpatunay na talaga isa sa magaling sa 118 kasi hawak niya ‘yung WBA. Gusto nating hamunin siya,” said Ancajas.
