Takuma Inoue vs Jerwin Ancajas Betting Odds and Prediction

Takuma Inoue vs Jerwin Ancajas Preview February 24^th, 2024

WBA Bantamweight Champion Takuma Inoue of Japan defends his title for the first time when he takes on former IBF Jr. Bantamweight Champion Jerwin Ancajas of the Philippines in Tokyo, this Saturday, February 24^th. Inoue beat Liborio Solis of Venezuela by unanimous decision last April to win the vacant belt while Ancajas stopped Wilner Soto in the fifth round in June in his last outing. The fight card will be shown on ESPN+ in America and starting at about 4 am ET.

Inoue vs Ancajas Betting Odds

Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).

• Jerwin Ancajas +190
• Takuma Inoue – 240

My Pick

The 28-year-old Inoue is the younger brother Naoya ‘Monster’ Inoue and owns a mark of 18-1 with 4 Ko’s and has 170 rounds of experience under his belt since turning pro in 2013 following an amateur career. He stands just over 5-feet-4-inches tall with a 64-inch reach but possesses just a small fraction of his brother’s power though as only 22.2 per cent of his wins have come by stoppage and he’s halted just one of his last eight opponents. Inoue has never fought a pro with a losing record and beat Mark Anthony Geraldo by unanimous decision in 2015 for the vacant OPBF Super Flyweight Title.

He defended that belt twice before moving up in weight. He then captured the WBC interim World Bantamweight Title in 2018 by beating Tasala Salapat by unanimous decision. His lone loss came by unanimous decision to Nordine Oubaali in a shot at the WBC Bantamweight Title in November, 2019 on the undercard of the first Naoya Inoue vs Nonito Donaire fight. He’s also captured the Japanese and WBO Asia Pacific Super Bantamweight Crowns as a pro.

Ancajas is a 32-year-old southpaw who enters the ring at 34-3-2 mark with 23 Kos. He won the IBF Jr. Bantamweight Title via a unanimous decision over McJoe Arroyo in September, 2016 and defended it against Miguel Gonzalez, Jose Alfredo Rodriguez, Teiru Kinoshita, Jamie Conlan, Ryuichi Funai and Israel Gonzalez by stoppage as well as Jonas Sultan and Jonathan Rodriguez by unanimous decision and Alejandro Santiago Barrios via a split-decision draw. He then lost the belt in his 10th defence when Fernando Martinez beat him by unanimous decision in February, 2022 and also lost by unanimous decision in their rematch eight months later.

His first pro loss was by 10-round majority decision to Mark Anthony Geraldo in 2012 and he was held to a four-round technical draw by Ervin Yamo in 2010. The former champ is 5-feet-6-inches tall with a 66.5-inch reach which gives him a 1.5-inch edge in height and a 2.5-inch reach advantage over Inoue. Ancajas has boxed 248 rounds since turning pro in 2009 as a 17-year-old and enjoyed a fine amateur career by reportedly going 90-5.

Since turning pro, Ancajas has also won the WBO Asia Pacific Youth Super Flyweight Title, Philippines Luzon Professional Boxing Association Bantamweight Title and the IBF Pan Pacific Super Flyweight Title. He’s a skilled all-round boxer who carries enough power in his fists with a current knockout ratio of 67.6 per cent but has gone the distance in three of his last four fights. He also has a solid chin and isn’t shy about letting his hands go. Ancajas’ is used to fighting on the road since he’s 12-2-1 with 9 Ko’s while boxing outside of his homeland.

Prediction…

This is a tough fight for Inoue as Ancajas has plenty of power and experience while Inoue is a light puncher with just 4 Ko’s in his 19 fights. Ancajas has a slight size advantage and if Inoue can’t keep him at bay then he’s going to have his hands full. Inoue is going to have to outbox Ancajas here because it’s very unlikely he’s going to stop him. I can see any outcome here but I’m actually leaning towards Ancajas slightly as I think his natural aggression and power will be enough to take the title.

Ancajas’ power and aggression give him the edge.

Play: Ancajas + 190 @ BetOnline.ag

Check out my recent boxing betting picks to see my current form.

Jerwin Ancajas betting • Takuma Inoue betting