The road to Naoya Inoue runs through an intriguing clash between two former world champions. The IBF has officially ordered a junior featherweight title eliminator between Ryosuke Nishida and Jerwin Ancajas, with the winner becoming the mandatory challenger for Inoue’s crown.
Negotiations between Nishida and Ancajas must be finalized by September 23 or the bout will head to purse bid, according to IBF Championships Chairman George Martinez. Ancajas enters the fight ranked No. 5 with the IBF, fresh off a majority decision win over Ruben Dario Casero in Long Beach on August 2. Nishida, meanwhile, sits at No. 8, having dropped his IBF bantamweight title to Junto Nakatani via fifth-round TKO in June.
The timing is critical as Inoue prepares to defend his undisputed junior featherweight championship on September 14 in Nagoya against WBA mandatory challenger Murodjon Akhmadaliev. If victorious, Inoue is expected to meet his WBC mandatory David Alan Picasso in Saudi Arabia before a blockbuster showdown with Nakatani in 2026.
For Nishida, the eliminator offers a chance at redemption after his first professional defeat. For Ancajas, a seasoned veteran and former long-reigning super flyweight champion, it’s the opportunity to climb back to the top at a new weight. Both men know that victory not only secures a title shot but also places them in line for one of the most coveted fights in boxing - a date with “The Monster” himself.
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