FILIPINO boxer Jerwin Ancajas extended his winning streak at super bantamweight to three straight with a hard-fought majority decision victory over Uruguay’s Ruben Dario Casero on Saturday (Sunday, Aug. 3, 2025, PH time) at Thunder Studios in Long Beach, California.
The former world title holder, fighting for the first time on US soil in two years, dominated the eight-round bout with a focused attack, especially to the body, to earn scores of 80-72 from two judges.
The third judge scored the contest a surprising 76-76 draw, but it wasn’t enough to deny Ancajas the win.
Ancajas, 33, showed flashes of the vintage form that made him a long-reigning IBF super flyweight champion, using sharp jabs and right crosses to set up powerful left straights.
While Casero, 32, was a game opponent with a high guard, Ancajas’ relentless body work and pressure eventually wore him down.
The victory improves Ancajas’ record to 37-4-2 with 24 knockouts and is a crucial step in his bid to secure another world title shot in the 122-pound division.
He is currently ranked in the top 10 by several major sanctioning bodies, and his performance on Saturday night will likely boost his standing.
Ancajas’ win was the fourth straight for fighters from Manny Pacquiao’s MP Promotions, following victories by Eumir Marcial, Mark Magsayo, and Isaac Cruz on the undercard of the recent Pacquiao-Mario Barrios bout.
For Casero, who was making his U.S. debut, the loss drops his record to 13-5. / SUNSTAR CEBU SPORTS