Ancajas stays as IBF champ after historic all-Filipino title bout

Ancajas dominated his compatriot from the get-go as he successfully defended his 115-pound division belt for the fifth straight time. (Photo: Jerwin “Pretty Boy” Ancajas/Facebook)

MANILA — Filipino professional boxer Jerwin Ancajas remained as the IBF junior bantamweight champion after defeating Jonas Sultan in the first all-Filipino world boxing title fight in 93 years at the Save Mart Arena in Fresno, California, USA on Sunday (Philippine Time).

Ancajas dominated his compatriot from the get-go as he successfully defended his 115-pound division belt for the fifth straight time.

Ancajas, who moved up to 30-1-1, showed his veteran smarts by banking on his patience and technical style of fighting to frustrate Sultan, who, despite having bright moments in Rounds 3 and 11, slipped to 14-4, snapping a five-match winning run.

Sultan’s resilience, however, forced the match to go the distance, the first time Ancajas failed to win by stoppage since 2016.

One judge gave a 117-111 score in favor of Ancajas, while two others handed 119-109 verdicts for Ancajas for the unanimous decision win.

Waiting on the wings for Ancajas, however, is reigning WBA 115-pound champ Khalid Yafai.

The UK-based Yemeni pug kept his WBA super flyweight belt after knocking out David Carmona of Mexico in the co-main event of the card.

Carmona, who actually came in overweight by nearly four pounds, could not keep up with the still unbeaten Yafai, forcing him to call it a day after Round 7.