Before they share the ring soon, IBF World super flyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas and his challenger Jonas Sultan crossed paths when they both received awards at the 18th Gabriel "Flash" Elorde Memorial Awards and Banquet of Champions, Sunday night at the Grand Ballroom of Okada Manila.
Ancajas received the highest honor of the night along with former world champions Marlon Tapales and Milan Melindo as the boxers of the year for 2017. Sultan also received a citation in the prestigious awards night for his reign as the IBF Intercontinental super flyweight title.
The two were supposed to face off on April 15 on the undercard of the WBO welterweight title bout between Jeff Horn and Terrence Crawford but a hand injury to the latter caused the postponement of the entire card. Instead, Bob Arum's Top Rank Promotions is looking for a late May or early June schedule for the fight in California to attract many Filipino fans who'll get to witness the first world title match between two Filipino boxers in almost 100 years.
"Jonas was the one who approached me because we were here first," said Ancajas. "It was not awkward at all because we're Facebook friends and we know that this match is something we needed to do. I'm the champion so I'll have to face a mandatory challenger and Jonas earned that spot."
Ancajas holds a record of 29 wins against a loss and a draw, with 20 wins coming via knockout. He won the IBF title back in 2016 with a unanimous decision victory in Taguig against McJoe Arroyo. Ancajas has since defended this title four times, winning all via stoppage with the last one coming against Israel Gonzales in the Filipino champion's U.S. debut.
"I'm so thankful to be here and to receive this award," Ancajas added about his newly-trophy which he will add to the Philippine Sportswriters Association Athlete of the Year award he picked up last month. "Being in the same room as Filipino boxing champions now and from the past gives me more motivation to work even harder because I want to continue what they started. I want to show the world that Filipino boxers are really world class."
He also credited Manny Pacquiao, the night's guest speaker, as one of the biggest reasons for the success of many Filipino boxers because of his continued support. Ancajas based this on experience as it was Pacquiao who funded his title fight against Arroyo, paying the world champion a huge fee to defend his title in the challenger's backyard.
For Sultan, the award was a reminder of what he already accomplished and a taste of what he could become. Ancajas joined Pacquiao, Donnie Nietes, and members of the Elorde family at the elevated presidential table in the middle of the ballroom. Sultan knows that only one more win separates him from taking that spot.
"At first I really did not want to fight another Filipino for a world title," said Sultan. "Why should I try to take his belt away when we can all be champions for different organizations? But as a boxer, you really can't choose an opponent. I also realized that this is a good opportunity to promote Philippine boxing in the US. After the fight one of us will win, the other will lose but Philippine boxing will be the big winner if we give a good show."
Sultan admitted that the postponement of the fight messed up his earlier plans.
"I was already doing heavy training but I had to taper off and wait for the promoters to finalize the new date before I can pick it up again," said the Cebu-based fighter who last climbed the ring in September 2017 when he defeated former world champion John Riel Casimero.
"I think I have the style that could give Ancajas problems because I can be a boxer and I can be a fighter just like him," Sultan closed. "It will be my first world title shot and my first fight in the U.S. so I'm training hard so I'll be ready."