By Nick Giongco
TOKYO – International Boxing Federation (IBF) super-flyweight king Jerwin Ancajas might end up replacing Manny Pacquiao on the April promotion being staged by Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum in Las Vegas.
Joven Jimenez, the chief handler and trainer of Ancajas, told the Bulletin-Tempo on Tuesday that he has been advised by their US agent Sean Gibbons to be ready as Arum is keen on making a last-minute change.
Originally penciled for April 14 with Pacquiao sharing the limelight with Terence Crawford and Jeff Horn, Jimenez said that the fight could even be moved to April 28.
Expected to face Ancajas is Filipino mandatory challenger Jonas Sultan of the ALA Boxing Club of Cebu.
With Pacquiao unlikely to fight in April due to his Senate duties, Ancajas is being seen as an attractive alternative given his surging popularity.
Early this month, Ancajas made his US debut and stopped Israel Gonzalez of Mexico in Corpus Christi, Texas, in is fourth defense of the title he won in Sept. 2016.
“I have told Jerwin to be ready,” said Jimenez, who is here to guide super-bantam contender Ernesto Saulong in his world title bid Thursday night at the Ryogoku Sumo Arena. Ancajas, who defended the IBF 115-lb crown thrice in 2017, is back in training at the Survival Camp in Magallanes, Cavite.
