Jerwin Ancajas ready to move up to 118 to challenge Donaire and Casimero

Reigning IBF world super flyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas is willing to move up to 118 pounds to challenge WBC world bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire Jr. and WBO world bantamweight champion John Riel Casimero.

Ancajas (33-1-2, 22KOs), who has held the flyweight world title since 2016, has been longing to go up a division for years. He defended his strap against fellow Filipino Jonas Sultan in 2018 and says he is ready to be the challenger at bantamweight if given the opportunity.

“A world title fight with a fellow Filipino fight is not new to me because I already fought Sultan. If given the opportunity, I will be proud to fight big names like them especially Donaire,” Ancajas said.

“I am just waiting for coach when it is time to move up a weight class. If I get a unification fight next, I want to go up in weight. I am more than ready.”

Casimero and Donaire have been going back and forth on social media lately daring each other to fight. They were supposed to share the ring last month until Donaire pulled out of the bout after he felt "disrespected" by Team Casimero’s pre-fight shenanigans.

According to Ancajas’ trainer and manager Joven Jimenez, they are ready to face either of the two at a moment’s notice if given the chance.

“What is important for a boxer is the opportunity to fight for a world championship. That is rare in the life of a boxer so if there is a chance to fight them then that is a huge opportunity,” said Jimenez.

“If we keep waiting, what is going to happen with my boxer? If the opportunity is there we will fight even tomorrow. Jerwin has been a champion at 115 pounds for a long time, I should give him a chance to go up to 118 pounds.”

—JMB, GMA News