Panabo World Boxing Champ to face Kazuto Ioka on Dec. 31 (VIDEO)

DAVAO CITY – After a long wait, reigning International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior bantamweight champion, Panabo City native Jerwin Ancajas will finally face three-division world champion and World Boxing Organization titleholder Kazuto Ioka of Japan on December 31.

Manny Pacquiao Promotions who promotes the fight of Ancajas made the announcement recently.

Boxing experts and fans have long wanted to see Ancajas fight Ioka since the two are considered two of the best professional boxers in the world today.

The Panaboan is full of confidence as of late since he is considered the longest world boxing champion in the Philippines.

According to reports, Ancajas held his championship belt since 2016 and already defended it nine times, the last one against a Mexican challenger on April 11.

Anjacajas beat Mexican challenge, Jonathan Javier Rodriguez, via a unanimous decision at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.

The 29-year-old professional boxer overcame lack of air to eke out a win against Rodriguez who fought gallantly in the entire 12 rounds of their fight.

Anjacas dominated the boxing bout from the get-go even out down to the canvass Rodriguez in the eight-round of their fight.

The Filipino boxing champion was happy with his win against Rodriguez who dropped to 22 wins and two defeats.

Ancajas admitted his long layoff from boxing due to COVID-19 affected his performance in his title defense.

With his hard-fought win, Ancajas is set to face dangerous Japanese boxing champion Kazuto Ioka later this year.

Anjacas last fought on December 7, 2019, where he scored a sixth-round knockout win over Puerto Rico’s Miguel Gonzalez in Puebla, Mexico.

Ancajas fought two times in 2019 but none last year. (Romeo Braceros Jr.)

Photo: Asian Fight Scene FB page

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