by Nick Giongco

STOCKTON, California – World champion Jerwin Ancajas knows exactly what he is up against Saturday night.

Ancajas (30-1-2 with 20 KOs) feels that Japanese mandatory challenger Ryuichi Funai (31-7 with 22 KOs) is someone not to be messed with even if he remains the prohibitive favorite going into their scheduled 12-rounder at the Stockton Arena.

From what he has seen of Funai, 33, on videos, the challenger loves to bang and targets not only the head and is adept in going downstairs as well.

“Nakatayo lang, diretso pero pumapasok [He stands upright but likes to get inside],” Ancajas told a pair of Manila-based scribes during a break from training.

Jerwin Ancajas basks under the Sunday sun in Stockton, California. (Alvin S. Go)

Funai’s fights with former world champion Shinsuke Yamanaka and against a Filipino boxer were the films Ancajas viewed on YouTube.

“Mataas ang experience (He’s got a lot of experience),” added Ancajas, whose date with Funai will be the seventh defense of the IBF crown he won in Sept. 2016.

“Mabigat na laban ito (This is going to be a tough fight),” added the Filipino southpaw.

Funai arrived here Sunday afternoon after leaving Tokyo’s Haneda Airport for Sacramento, where his team landed and kicked off the 40-minute drive.

The two fighters are to meet in a press conference Thursday afternoon and will do so again at the official weighin Friday when they should tip in at the division limit of 115 lbs or less.

Tags: Filipino boxer , Jerwin Ancajas , Ryuichi Funai