A Mexican fighter has reportedly been tapped to challenge world junior-bantamweight champion Jerwin Ancajas when the pride of Panabo City makes his US debut on February 3.

Ancajas will defend his crown against Israel Gonzalez in a fight card that will be headlined by the super-middleweight world title bout between champion Gilberto Ramirez and Habib Ahmed in Corpus Christi, Texas.

"Sa tingin ko iyon na ang makakalaban ni Ancajas," a source told ABS-CBN News.

Gonzalez has a professional record of 21-1-0 and was ranked No. 9 on the International Boxing Federation's junior bantamweight list.

Ancajas has already begun training in anticipation of the February fight, which will be promoted by Bob Arum’s Top Rank Inc.

Arum has taken interest on the rising junior bantamweight star especially after Ancajas strung together a series of victories, the latest of which was his six-round demolition of Ireland’s Jamie Conlan.

In fact, Arum has already labelled the Panabo city native as the “next Manny Pacquiao.”

"He is going to become a Top Rank fighter," Bob Arum said in a previous report. "We're going to fight him at least three or four times a year. We call him the 'next Manny Pacquiao.'"

Ancajas' camp is waiting for matchmaker Sean Gibbons who will make the formal announcement of the Filipino champion’s next bout.

The announcement will be done at Makati Square this Saturday in an event that will feature former Olympian and mini flyweight boxer Mark Barriga against Glenne Calacar in an 8-round bout.

(For more sports coverage, visit the ABS-CBN Sports website.)