It’s not a stretch to say that IBF super flyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas has had one of the weakest reigns of any legitimate titlist; he’s yet to face a genuinely elite fighter in his eight defenses and barely escaped with a draw against Alejandro Santiago Barrios in 2018. Now, however, “Pretty Boy” tells Inquirer.net that he’s eager to unify, and Bob Arum is “already looking to pit him” against newly crowned WBA “world” champion Joshua Franco.
“We’re excited because he holds the WBA title and I was really surprised with how Franco fights and he’s a fighter that you shouldn’t overlook even if you don’t know him that well,” said Ancajas who was impressed with the American’s win over Andrew Moloney in June.
“We haven’t seen much of Franco but he has the skills and he’s good. I’m really excited to match up against him.”
Arum had previously expressed interest in this matchup last month.
Franco (17-1-2, 8 KO), who battered Andrew Moloney for the belt in June, is both the easiest and arguably only realistic option besides possibly WBO champ Kazuto Ioka, who’s busy with Kosei Tanaka; the other division elites, like Srisaet Sor Rungvisai, Juan Francisco Estrada, and Roman Gonzalez, are signed to Matchroom and/or compete exclusively on DAZN. Franco beat Moloney on ESPN, so there shouldn’t be any p
That said, there are still obstacles in the way. Ancajas has mandatory challenger Jonathan Rodriguez to deal with, while Moloney exercised his rematch clause for another crack at Franco. If both come out victorious and Ancajas is actually able to leave the Philippines, this one’s definitely feasible.