Ancajas Escapes with a Draw to Retain His IBF Belt
By Jason Aniel
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 30 Sep 2018
Oakland, CA--IBF super flyweight world title Jerwin Ancajas (30-1-2, 20 KOs) successfully retained his title with a twelve-round draw against challenger, Alejandro Santiago (16-2-5, 7 KOs) Friday night (Saturday morning in Manila).
After a feeling out first round, Santiago landed a crushing right hand to Ancajas to end the second round. It became evident after the second round that the heavy favorite, Ancajas, was in for a long night.
Ancajas was able to control the pace and tempo for much of the night. But to Santiago?s credit, at times, he was able to upset Ancajas? rhythm and rock him with some clean punches. If you appreciated Santiago?s clean counter punches, though sporadic, along with memorable highlight moments of success, you likely agreed with Judge Marshall Walker?s score of 118-111 in favor of Santiago.
Though Ancajas could not sustain an attack, he did dictate the pace of the fight, landed more punches, and displayed a more versatile attack to the body and head. Likely, Judge Michael Tate was more impressed with that approach when he favored Ancajas, 116-112.
Judge Chris Wilson probably had the fairest assessment of the fight, scoring the bout even, 114-114.?
Ancajas now has six successful defense of his IBF Super Flyweight Championship. Post-fight, Ancajas conceded that he was not on top of his game, but gave full credit to Santiago?s awkward style and strategy. ?He was much shorter than me, and was in a shell most of the fight. So, punches to the head were hard to come by. That?s why I attacked the body,? explained Ancajas in the locker room full of Philippine Media, friends, and his team.
Ancajas further admitted, ?I felt I won the fight, but he was tougher than I expected. But that?s what happens in world title fights. My challengers will be at their best.?
The draw marked Ancajas? fourth title fight in just 11 months. Many boxing observers looked ahead to a possible ?big-fight? in the division with WBC Super Flyweight, Srisaket Sor Rungvisai. Maybe Ancajas and his team made that same mistake in overlooking Santiago.
The bout was intense throughout and had enough heated exchanges to please the fans in attendance. The majority of the fans loved the fight. So, while talks of a rematch were naturally met with excitement by both camps, it?s probably time for Ancajas to move on to the next level of competition in a higher profile event. And that would be a unification bout with the division?s top fighter in Sor Rungvisai, or other top Super Flyweights in Juan Francisco Estrada or Roman Gonzales.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Jason Aniel.
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