Ancajas off to Thailand
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 05 Oct 2018
IBF superflyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas will be at ringside when WBC counterpart Srisaket Sor Rungvisai of Thailand stakes his crown against Mexico?s Iran Diaz at the Impact Arena in Pak Kret, 17 kilometers from Bangkok, tomorrow (Saturday, Oct. 6). Joining Ancajas in witnessing the fight will be his manager/trainer Joven Jimenez and Las Vegas-based international matchmaker Sean Gibbons. After the bout, they will go to Manila to plan out the next step in moving Ancajas? career forward.
Jimenez said Ancajas may be moving up to the 118-pound bantamweight division sooner than later. Last week, Ancajas and Mexican challenger Alejandro Santiago battled to a split 12-round draw at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, allowing the Filipino to retain the IBF title. Although it appeared that Ancajas had done enough to win the decision in his sixth championship defense, he wasn?t his usual dominating self. Ancajas knocked out his first four challengers then went the distance in outpointing Jonas Sultan and also endured the full route in the Santiago fight.
Ancajas had no difficulty making weight for Santiago and scaled 115.6 pounds the day before the weigh-in. At the weigh-in, he scaled 114.2 and in the morning of the fight, 128.8. It?s possible Ancajas overdid his training to make weight too early, leaving his body dehydrated longer than usual and unable to recover in a day. During the fight, Ancajas cramped in the legs and wasn?t as quick on his feet or hands. However, he refused to make excuses after the fight and never mentioned cramping to media until days later.
Jimenez said he has hired cooks and a dietician to prepare meals for Ancajas at the training facility in Magallanes, Cavite, where the champion lives with his family. But on lawyer Bobbet Bruce?s advice, Jimenez said he will consult with scientific nutritionist Jeaneth Aro on a meal plan for Ancajas. Aro is the ABAP national boxing team?s nutrition coach.
?Mukhang nahirapan na si Jerwin sa 115,? said Jimenez. ?Sabi ni Jerwin, balak na niyang umakyat sa 118 at i-surrender yung korona niya.? But Ancajas said if Rungvisai agrees to a unification showdown, he?ll stay in the superflyweight division for one more fight against the Thai. Jimenez said he will discuss Ancajas? future plans with Gibbons when they meet in Thailand.
Rungvisai, 31, will make the third defense of the WBC crown he wrested on a majority 12-round decision from Nicaragua?s Chocolatito Gonzalez at Madison Square Garden in New York City in March last year. The Thai knocked out Gonzalez in the fourth round in a rematch at the StubHub Center in Carson City six months later. In his second title defense, Rungvisai kept the throne on a majority 12-round verdict over Mexican Juan Francisco Estrada at the Forum in Inglewood last February. Rungvisai?s record is 46-4-1, with 41 KOs compared to Diaz? 14-2-3, with 6 KOs. Diaz has been stopped by Mexico?s Juan Hernandez in 2015 and France?s Nordine Qubaali in Paris in 2016. He hasn?t lost in his last four outings although he?s coming off a third round technical draw with Adolfo Castillo in Monterrey last June.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
SPORTS SHORTS 285: AMIR KHAN ACCEPTS OFFER FOR AN EXHIBITION MATCH WITH MANNY PACQUIAO
By Maloney L. Samaco, Mon, 25 Nov 2024FOGOUM, TOSHIHIKO, KIM, RATTAWUT, RUF, CHUTINAN IN ACTION IN HIGHLAND’S EXCITING “SHOWDOWN” NOV 28 AT SPACEPLUS IN BANGKOK, THAILAND
By Carlos Costa, Mon, 25 Nov 2024Gil Robiego Co Elected New APPBRO President for 2025-2027
By Carlos Costa, Mon, 25 Nov 2024Garma wins, climbs to 8th place
By Marlon Bernardino, Mon, 25 Nov 2024Davao futsal scores 1st win
By Lito delos Reyes, Mon, 25 Nov 2024Filipino FIDE Master Mario Mangubat is the new FIDE World Senior 65 over category Rapid Champion
Sun, 24 Nov 2024Thunderdome 48 - Jude Grant vs Fano Kori
Sun, 24 Nov 2024World Boxing backs plan to create a new Confederation in Asia
Sun, 24 Nov 2024The message is clear – Asian Boxing Confederation remains united with the IBA
Sun, 24 Nov 2024OSCAR DE LA HOYA FOUNDATION HOSTS 25TH ANNUAL TURKEY GIVEAWAY FOR EAST LOS ANGELES COMMUNITY
Sun, 24 Nov 2024Life vs. Death: The Ultimate Ringside Showdown Immortalized in Pierce Egan’s Boxiana
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Sat, 23 Nov 2024SPORTS SHORTS 284: TEAM MARK MAGSAYO CONFIRMS RETURN TO THE RING ON DECEMBER 14
By Maloney L. Samaco, Sat, 23 Nov 2024RJP Boxing promotes in Bucana on Dec. 17
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 23 Nov 2024Good Prospects at Minimumweight, Light Fly, Super Bantam and Super Feather in 2025
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Sat, 23 Nov 2024Filipino International Master Chito Danilo Garma is the new World Senior Blitz champion; Filipino FIDE Master Mario Mangubat takes the bronze medal
By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 23 Nov 2024