At the age of 26, Jerwin is a nine-year pro. The IBF junior bantamweight world champion, he won the title in September, 2016, and has made five successful title defenses.
Jerwin is considered by most observers to be one of the Philippines’ top young talents, with the potential to become his homeland’s next major star. He was voted the “2017 Athlete of the Year” by the Philippine Sportswriters Association.
He is co-promoted by Filipino legend Manny Pacquiao’s MP Promotions – he’s Manny’s first world champion – and Top Rank, who calls him “the next Manny Pacquiao.”
Jerwin is undefeated in 18 fights – 16-0-1, 1 NSF, with 14 knockouts – since his only loss by 10-round majority decision in March, 2012.
He has fought 23 times in his native Philippines, five times in China, three times in the United States, and one time each in Australia, and Northern Ireland.
In his last fight on September 28 in Oakland, California, he had a 12 round draw against Alejandro Santiago.
ESPN.com’s Dan Rafael reported [excerpts]: Jerwin Ancajas retained his junior bantamweight belt for the sixth time but had to settle for a draw in a very competitive fight with Alejandro Santiago on the Top Rank Boxing on ESPN+ card Friday night at Oracle Arena.
Ancajas and Santiago fought a scrappy, action fight the judges saw entirely differently. One judge had it 116-112 for Ancajas, one scored it 118-111 for Santiago and one had 114-114.
Santiago (16-2-5, 7 KOs) gave a very spirited effort…. The action picked up late in the second round when they traded toe-to-toe with both men getting nailed with solid punches, one of which appeared to wobble Ancajas just before the bell ended the round.
It was competitive all the way, with both fighters landing their share of shots, but it was Ancajas, who had swelling over his right eye late in the bout, who hit a little harder and landed a little cleaner than Santiago, who fought to a draw for the second consecutive fight. He also got his jab going in the second half of the fight.
The fight essentially came down to battle between the southpaw Ancajas’ straight left hand and Santiago’s overhand rights. [End Rafael item]
In his post-fight interview, Jerwin said, “It was a good, entertaining fight. My timing was a little off. He was a little awkward.
“I felt like I pressed the fight and did enough to win. I still want all the champions at 115. Nothing has changed.”
Jerwin made his U.S. debut on February 3, 2018, in Corpus Christi, Texas, and won by 10th-round TKO against Israel Gonzalez.
