The biggest card in boxing this weekend is this lower-weight showcase in Japan with three world titles on the line, including two at bantamweight. A key fight to look at is this WBA world bantamweight title fight between Takuma Inoue and Jerwin Ancajas.
Inoue vs. Ancajas Picks
- Pick: Ancajas +200.
Continue reading for the official Inoue vs Ancajas prediction before placing any bets on this weekend’s boxing slate.
Inoue vs. Ancajas Information
Takuma Inoue vs Jerwin Ancajas
Location of the game: Kokugikan Arena, Tokyo, Japan
Date & Time: February 24, 2024, 6:15 AM ET
How to Watch: ESPN+
Last Fight Results:
Inoue is coming off winning the vacant WBA bantamweight title by unanimous decision over Liborio Solís last April.
Ancajas is coming off a TKO victory over Wilner Soto in the 5th round last June.
Inoue vs. Ancajas Betting Analysis
Takuma Inoue
Inoue is a Japanese boxer with a professional record of 18-1 with 4 wins by KO so far at the age of 28. He’s the younger brother of pound-for-pound #1 Naoya Inoue and has won the belt that was vacated by his brother. He was named the 2015 Prospect of the Year by The Ring and his only loss has been in a world title fight against Nordine Oubaali.
Inoue is listed as a 5’5” orthodox boxer with a 64” reach. He only has a 22% KO rate as a professional and is currently ranked as the 8th-best bantamweight in the world by The Ring. Since making his debut in 2013, Inoue has completed 170 professional rounds.
Jerwin Ancajas
Ancajas is a Filipino boxer with a professional record of 34-3-2, including 23 wins by KO under his belt at the age of 32. He’s moving up from super-flyweight, where he held the IBF title from 2016 to 2022. Before turning pro in 2009, he accumulated an amateur record of 90-5.
Ancajas is a 5’5” southpaw with a 66 ½” reach. He has an impressive 68% KO rate and has defended a world title 8 times at super-flyweight. Since his professional debut, he has completed 248 total rounds.
Updates
ESPN has not issued any injury reports.
Takuma Inoue vs. Jerwin Ancajas Betting Preview
This Inoue vs Ancajas prediction has a lot of factors tied to it. The best we can do is preview the betting lines and study the tape on both guys, without putting too much thought into the other factors and overthinking a betting pick.
Starting with the available boxing betting odds, Inoue is coming in as the -250 betting favorite over the +200 Ancajas. The o10.5 round total is heavily favored at -549 and this bout is favored to go to a decision at -450. Any bet for either of them to win by KO has massive plus-odds.
Stylistically, this is a very interesting matchup. Strictly from a technical standpoint, Inoue will always have a great game plan with his brother and father in his corner making adjustments along the way. He has gotten better at forming his own style and probably still hasn’t reached his prime. He has speed and is an accurate puncher.
Ancajas is a tough, durable fighter with a lot of power for his size and very good punching ability. He fights with pressure and changes up the pacing of his fight very well.
A few factors in this fight are: 1. Inoue is reportedly coming off a bad rib injury and Ancajas is a very good body puncher. He will need to make that a priority from the opening bell to land heavy on Inoue’s body, and 2. This fight is in Japan. Whether you like to admit it or not, boxing still has a lot of biased judging and reffing, and probably even crooked judging depending on where the fight is sanctioned.
Japan tends to show preference for its own fighters, similar to many other regions worldwide.
Takuma Inoue vs. Jerwin Ancajas Betting Pick and Prediction
After a lot of film study and going back and forth with who has the upper hand, the safest bet would be to take Inoue to win by decision because it will be hard for Ancajas to come into Japan and win on the scorecards.
With that being said, the official Inoue vs Ancajas prediction is that Ancajas can overpower and beat Inoue. He will need one or two knockdowns and a dominant performance to do so. He has the skills to really be too much for Inoue. Testing the ribs of Inoue out of the southpaw stance is key from the start.
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- Pick: Ancajas +200.
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