Music to calm Ancajas
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 07 May 2019
STOCKTON. While waiting in the lockerroom to warm up for his title defense against Japanese challenger Ryuichi Funai, IBF superflyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas listened to music on his headphones at the Stockton Arena here last Saturday night. It was music to stay calm, to put him in the mood.
Ancajas sat on a steel chair with a towel over his head. For about 20 minutes, he was incommunicado. Nobody dared to bother him. Nobody talked to him. It was Ancajas? brief alone time before getting his hands wrapped, fitting the colorful Hayabusa gloves and limbering up for a sweat. He was in the lockerroom for about 1 1/2 hours then made his way to the ring.
So what was the music he listened to? DJ and ring announcer Mark Lontayao looked over Ancajas? playlist and shared the titles of some of the songs. Not surprisingly, at least four were Air Supply hits----?The Way I Feel? ?Would You Ever Walk Away? ?Goodbye? and ?Making Love Out Of Nothing At All.? Then there were ?Beautiful In White? by Westlife, ?Someday? by Sugar Ray and ?Out Of The Blue? by Michael Learns To Rock.
Ancajas? marching song, however, was far from soothing. It was AC/DC?s ?Highway To Hell.? Ancajas rocked the music as he entered the ring with an enthusiastic entourage led by international matchmaker Sean Gibbons, his son Brendan and trainer Joven Jimenez. Even GAB chairman Abraham Mitra was with the group. Mitra arrived from Manila that day and drove in from Sacramento.
The California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) assigned George Ramos to oversee the proceedings in Ancajas? lockerroom. Ramos, who is of Mexican descent, said he has a Filipina girlfriend. He was also in Ancajas? corner representing the CSAC. Ramos gave his go-signal for the wrapping of Ancajas? hands and fitting of the gloves in the presence of a member of Funai?s team. There was an awkward moment when Ancajas began to do the mitts with Jimenez while Funai?s representative looked on, waiting for the gloves to be taped by Ramos. Jimenez asked the representative if he could step out while the tape was on the way. He did and returned when the tape was brought in.
After the fight, Stockton resident Toti Quijano brought in Fr. Ron Manango to lead the thanksgiving prayer to the Lord. Fr. Manango celebrated Holy Mass at the Sonata Circle home where Ancajas stayed last week. Gibbons arranged for the Ancajas team to stay in a rented five-bedroom home owned by former Stockton mayor Anthony Silva. Fr. Manango is a big boxing fan and used to box for his high school team in Cebu. He was assigned to the US in 2006 and is the parish priest of Our Lady of Fatima Church in Modesto, California.
As Ancajas left his lockerroom to leave the arena, he bumped into rising lightweight contender and Stockton hometowner Gabe Flores. In the undercard, Flores knocked out Eduardo Pereira in the third round of a sixer. It was Flores? Stockton debut. He turned 19 last May 1 and now has a record of 13-0 with 6 KOs. Ancajas congratulated Flores for his win and Flores did the same. Filipinos in Stockton said Ancajas has found a new home in the US as Flores gave the champion a purple cap with the numbers 209, the port city?s area code. Purple is the color of the Stockton Kings, the NBA G-League affiliate of the Sacramento Kings.
Photo: Ancajas listens to his music in the lockerroom before the Funai fight.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Filipino 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 2024KAMBOSOS JR SIGNS CO-PROMOTIONAL DEAL WITH MATCHROOM
Sat, 23 Nov 2024INTERNATIONAL BOXING HALL OF FAME TO ANNOUNCE CLASS OF 2025 ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5th
Sat, 23 Nov 2024Ring Master promotes in Calinan on Dec. 21
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 22 Nov 2024NP Bansalan boxing team in Matalam
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 22 Nov 2024New York, Minnesota Biggest Trade Gainers; Los Angeles Has the Rookie Draft Steal
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Fri, 22 Nov 2024