Filipino junior bantamweight Jerwin Ancajas has been training and waiting, all in the hopes of getting another chance to defend his title for an eighth time.
His patience paid off this week. Ancajas (31-1-2, 21 knockouts) will defend his 115-pound belt against Miguel Gonzalez (31-2, 8 KO) of Chile on December 7 in Puebla, Mexico on a Top Rank card featuring another title fight, junior featherweight champion Emanuel Navarrete versus Francisco Horta.
The card will be streamed on on ESPN+.
Ancajas had been scheduled to fight Mexican Jonathan Rodriguez on November 2 at Carson, California. But the bout was canceled when Rodriguez was unable to acquire a visa.
“I am ready to defend my world title in front of the great Mexican fans,” said Ancajas, who has held his title since a unanimous decision over McJoe Arroyo on Sept. 3, 2016 in the Philippines. “Since my fight against Rodriguez was canceled, I’ve stayed in America to train. I am in fantastic shape. Gonzalez is a worthy challenger and has beaten good opposition to earn this title shot.”
Gonzalez has fought all but one of his fights in Chile. In his only bout outside of home country, he lost a unanimous decision to Paul Butler in the U.K. on Sept. 21, 2013. He was stopped by Australian Andrew Moloney in a title eliminator on March 22.