Jerwin Ancajas has always been aware of the comparisons between him and eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao.
And the reigning IBF Super Flyweight World Champion is more than grateful for the kind words that he is receiving.
“Para sa akin, masaya po ako na ‘yung mga tao po ang nagsasabi na susunod sa yapak ni Sir Manny. Iba ‘yung sila talaga nagsasabi sir eh,” said Ancajas in Tiebreaker Vodcasts’ The Hit List, presented by SMART last June 21.
Ancajas has the record to back up the comparisons, though. During his amateur years, the proud son of Panabo, Davao del Norte racked up a number of national championships and amassed a total record of 90-5 before going pro in 2009.
The 28-year-old Ancajas was as good as advertised entering the professional scene. He won 14 consecutive bouts before suffering his first career loss at the hands of fellow Filipino boxer Mark Anthony Geraldo.
Ancajas then went on to become the IBF Super Flyweight World Champion, a title he defended eight times. And he has held it for almost four years now, after taking down McJoe Arroyo in 2016. The ‘Pretty Boy’ currently boasts a 32-1-2 slate.
But despite the huge comparisons drawn by both fans and experts, the ever-humble Ancajas believes that the milestones that Pacquiao has reached throughout his entire boxing journey will remain untouched for a very long time.
“Hindi ko inano ‘yung sarili ko na magiging katulad ko si Sir Manny kasi kahit ako, ‘yung naabot ni Sir Manny sa boxing, napakahirap ng abutin po ‘yun sa totoo lang,” said Ancajas, who is currently under Pacquiao’s MP Promotions.
Carrying the likeness of arguably one of the greatest fighters of all-time surely brings a lot of weight with it. But Ancajas does not mind, since he chose not to compare himself with the global boxing icon.
“Para sa akin hindi din naman po ako napre-pressure kasi hindi ko rin talaga kinukumpara ‘yung sarili ko kay Sir Manny. Kung ano man ‘yung maabot ko sa boxing, pagbubutihin ko na lang po kung ano man po ‘yung gusto ko maabot sa boxing,” Ancajas explained.
“Lahat naman po nangarap na maging katulad ni Sir Manny. Pero para sa akin, para mawala ‘yung pressure, hindi ko kinukumpara ‘yung sarili ko kay Sir Manny. Para sa akin, napakahirap na abutin ‘yung ganon na level kay Sir Manny.”
