MANILA, Philippines – With a week left before his 5th title defense, Jerwin Ancajas has been buckling down to work before facing compatriot Jonas Sultan for the International Boxing Federation super flyweight title on Saturday, May 26 (Sunday, May 27 in Manila) in Fresno, California.

Ancajas, who left the Philippines for the USA last May 15 to prepare ahead of the first all-Filipino world title bout in 93 years, has immediately put in the hours at training with head coach Joven Jimenez. 

While he has won 16 straight bouts, 15 coming through stoppage, and has not lost since 2012, “The Pretty Boy” is not resting on his laurels when he meets Sultan at the  Save Mart Center. 

“Alam naman namin kung gaano din katibay si Sultan, gaano kapreparado, lalo ngayon, nandoon na sila sa US, talagang determinado sila manalo,” Ancajas told Rappler before he left the country. 

(We all know how tough Sultan is and how prepared he is. He is already in the US and we can see how determined he is to win.)

READ: Ancajas has mixed feelings in bout vs compatriot Sultan: ‘Paano ka magsasaya?’

The Ancajas-Sultan bout is the first all-Filipino world title clash in nearly a century since Pancho Villa defended his flyweight title against Clever Sencio with a 15-round unanimous decision win in 1925. 

Although Ancajas said it is a win-win for the Philippines since the country will keep the world title no matter who wins, he admitted he feels the pressure to impress the international audience 

“Andoon din ‘yung pressure na sana maganda ‘yung resulta kasi Pinoy din ‘yung kalaban ko, kailangan namin ma-impress ‘yung sa US, sa buong mundo na kahit Pinoy ‘yung maglalaban, magandang panoorin sa TV.” 

(There is pressure for us to have a great fight. We need to impress the people in the US and the whole world that even if both Filipinos are fighting, it is still worthy to watch on television.) – Rappler.com