TOKYO, Japan — There is a slightly hidden agenda in Jerwin Ancajas’ shot at the World Boxing Association bantamweight title this Saturday at the Ryogoku Kokugikan Sumo Arena.
If successful in dethroning Takuma Inoue, Ancajas could end up securing a megabuck matchup with boxing’s hottest star by year’s end.
“He could call out Naoya Inoue,” Sean Gibbons, the Filipino fighter’s promoter, said.
Nicknamed “Monster,” the unbeaten Naoya is Takuma’s older brother and an Ancajas triumph could infuse a revenge factor in an intriguing storyline.
Naoya is just a division away from Ancajas and Gibbons swears such a pairing is not out of the question.
“If Jerwin wins, he could out Naoya and they could end up fighting each other by the end of 2024.”
Naoya became the undisputed world super-bantamweight king a day after Christmas by destroying Marlon Tapales.
That landmark win made Naoya boxing’s most attractive fighter and the target of just about anyone who is at close proximity to the 122-lb ranks.
But first things first.
Ancajas has to dig deep down for him to make a strong case as a potential Naoya opponent.
Ancajas is the slight underdog against Takuma, who will be making the first defense of the WBA 118-lb strap he had won in April last year.
Not known as a heavy hitter like Naoya, Takuma still possesses a decent amount of pop in his punches to mess up Ancajas’ plans.
But Ancajas feels he has got the know-how, skill set and above-average power to become the country’s only world champion this weekend.
A win over Takuma will be special but getting a shot at Naoya will be the cherry on top.
