ANCAJAS RETAINS IBF BELT IN MACAU, CAN CANOY BEAT THE ODDS IN SOUTH AFRICA?
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 30 Jan 2017
Jerwin Ancajas scored the first world title fight victory for the Philippines this year when he retained his IBF super flyweight crown against Jose Alfredo Rodriguez of Mexico in Macau.
This was the first defense for Ancajas, who snatched the IBF world title from Puerto Rican McJoe Arroyo in Taguig City, Metro Manila last September 3, 2016. Last Sunday'’s fight was also Ancajas’ third win in Macau having figured on the undercards of Manny Pacquiao's fights held in the Special Administrative Region of China.
Epifanio Almeda, philboxing'’s ringside correspondent during the fight, reported that Rodriguez, at the start of the 8th round, refused to go to the center of the ring to fight,claiming a shoulder injury.
Ancajas is now 26-1-1, 17KO’s while Rodriguez drops to 32-5,19KO’s.
Fight fans here may remember that Rodriguez visited the Philippines in 2013 and lost to Milan Melindo by unanimous decision for the WBO International flyweight title. Melindo is now the IBF interim junior flyweight world titlist.
Rodriguez also lost in his first world title bid in 2012 by 6th round TKO to Japanese Kazuto Ioka.
Ancajas also got a bigger payday compared to his win against Arroyo. We can only hope he can also get a better purse on home soil. Local sponsors and television networks should step up. Asian countries like China and India are now spending a lot promoting big time boxing. We will be left behind once again, if not already, if the present state of local boxing continues.
A few days before Ancajas’' victory, it was close but no cigar for Melvin Jerusalem against the Thai Wanheng Menayothin (Chayaphon Moonsri), the reigning WBC minimumweight champion.
Wanheng is a 45-fight veteran who made his sixth title defense while Jerusalem was going into his 12th pro fight. Jerusalem lost by a razor thin point on two of the judges and he was deducted a point in round eight for low blows.
Jerusalem is only 22 years old and has nowhere to go but up.
On February 4, it will be the turn of Joey Canoy (12-2-1,6KO’s) who will go up against South African Hekkie Budler (30-2,9KO’s) for the vacant IBO light flyweight title.
Budler is a former WBA and IBO world minimumweight champ. He has beaten Filipinos like Juanito Rubillar, Michael Landero, Renan Trongco and former IBF world champ Florante Condes.
Their fight will be held in Gauteng, South Africa. This is the first overseas trip for the 23 year old Canoy, who is based in Cebu. He is now in South Africa and accompanied by respected trainer Brix Flores and his better half, Joy Flores.
Canoy is coming off a sensational action-packed bout last September, when he stopped Toto Landero in the sixth round on the undercard of the Ancajas-Arroyo title fight in Fort Bonifacio. Other than Ancajas’ win, this was the most applauded battle of that night.
Canoy also had the experience of being one of the sparring partners of Rex Tso when the undefeated Hong Kong boxing star visits and trains in the RWS Gym of Cebu. This will be a big step up for Canoy, unknown to most Pinoy fans, but the true-blue boxing fanatics here in Cebu appreciate him for his speed and entertaining style of fighting.
PHOTO - Jerwin Ancajas (left) and Joey Canoy
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