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Jerwin Ancajas to defend his title against Chilean Miguel Gonzalez

Junior bantamweight titleholder Jerwin Ancajas will defend his belt against Miguel Gonzalez of Chile on December 7 in Puebla, Mexico.

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.

Emanuel Navarrete eager to add to an already remarkable 2019

Emanuel Navarrete will fight for the fifth time in 12 months when he defends his title against Francisco Horta on December 7 in Mexico.

Emanuel Navarrete continues to put busy back into boxing with his fifth fight within 12 months, a junior featherweight title defense against Francisco Horta on December 7 in Puebla, Mexico on ESPN+.

Navarrete, perhaps the biggest breakout star in 2019, talked as if he were ready to fight tomorrow. But he’ll have to wait a few weeks.

“I already want to get in the ring,” Navarrete said this week in Puebla during a news conference announcing the bout. “I am a professional in every regard. I am training very hard. I paid the price to win this championship.’’

It’s been a breathtaking ascent from just another name to stardom for Navarrete (29-1, 25 knockouts) since he upset Isaac Dogboe by a unanimous decision to win a 122-pound belt last December 8 in New York.

Emanuel Navarrete (left) begins his celebration after stopping Juan Miguel Elorde in September. David Becker / Getty Images

On May 11, he scored a 12th-round stoppage of Dogboe in a rematch in Tucson, Arizona. On Aug. 17, he knocked out Francisco de Vaca in Los Angeles. And on Sept. 14, he stopped Juan Miguel Elorde in Las Vegas.

Take a deep breath because the fast track is expected to lead to a jump in weight. Navarette, of Mexico City, has already talked about moving up the scale from 122 pounds to 126. But, first, he says all of his inexhaustible energy and power will be focused on Horta (20-3-1, 10 KOs) of Cancun.

“I always go for the knockout,” said Navarrete, who will make a fourth title defense within seven months on a busy day dominated by the Andy Ruiz Jr.-Anthony Joshua heavyweight rematch in Saudi Arabia.