The reigning IBF super flyweight champion Jerwin “Pretty Boy” Ancajas will be facing undefeated Jamie Conlan of United Kingdom instead of the bigger names earlier reported, as the dynamite-fisted slugger makes his third title defense on November 18 in Belfast, Ireland.
Ancajas was initially slated to face WBO world super flyweight champion Naoya Inoue of Japan or the newly crowned WBC super flyweight champion Srisaket Sor Rungvisai of Thailand.
The Panabo City–native Ancajas (27-1-1, 18 knockouts), has successfully defended his title twice against Jose Alfredo Rodriguez in Macao, China, and Teiru Kinoshita in Brisbane, Australia, this year.
He will defend his belt for the third time under the same card to be headlined by former world champion Carl Frampton and WBO bantamweight champion Zolani Tete.
Conlan (19-0, 11 KOs) is ranked number five in the IBF super flyweight division.
Meanwhile, Jonas “Zorro” Sultan, the top-ranked super flyweight fighter in the IBF, will have to wait a little longer for his fight with Ancajas to materialize as the latter still has to deal first with Conlan.
Sultan of ALA Boxing Gym scored a stunning upset last September 16 in Cebu City when he beat two-division world champion Johnriel “Quadro Alas” Casimero in their world title eliminator to earn a shot at Ancajas’ IBF crown.
The delay should not worry Sultan though, as he has already showed interest in fighting the other champions in the super flyweight division like Inoue or Rungvisai should Ancajas fight another opponent.