DAVAO CITY — Officials of the Games and Amusements Board (GAB) do not want to have a Filipino challenger for reigning International Boxing Federation (IBF) World super flyweight champion Jerwin “Pretty Boy” Ancajas although there is already an order for a mandatory defense.
Fellow Filipino Jonas “Zorro” Sultan (14W-3L-0D, 9 KOs) of ALA Boxing Gym became the mandatory challenger after scoring an upset over former two-weight division champion Johnriel Casimero in an eliminator held last September in Cebu.
The 26-year-old native of Tampilisan, Zamboanga del Norte is currently the IBF Inter-Continental Super Flyweight title-holder.
“I’ve been saying and hoping that if possible for us to avoid an all-Pinoy championship as there are other belts that we can aim for,” said GAB Chair Abraham Kahlil “Baham” Mitra.
He added, “We appeal to both managers to explore other organizations so that we can also have more opportunities to have Pinoy world champions.”
GAB Commissioner Mar Masanguid, on the other hand, said the “all-Pinoy championship is not good for us Filipinos”. “Mahahati ang mga Pinoy kasi kapwa Pinoy ang maglalaban. Hindi yun maganda sa ating bansa (This will divide Filipinos because both Filipinos will be fighting. It is not good for our country),” said Masanguid, a former 3-time Barangay Captain in Davao City.
Together with fellow GAB Commissioner Edward Trinidad, Mitra and Masanguid accompanied Ancajas to Malacañang to pay a courtesy call to President Rodrigo Duterte.
Ancajas is again expected to pay a courtesy call next week. He was also given a heroes’ welcome Thursday in his own hometown in Panabo City where he was met by First District Representative Antonio Floirendo.
He is set to meet Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio in Davao City. Ancajas will be accompanied by Masanguid.