Ancajas stays in L. A. to train
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 04 Nov 2019
LOS ANGELES. A plan to train in Las Vegas has been scuttled as IBF superflyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas decided yesterday to stay here before leaving for Puebla, Mexico, one or two weeks before his eighth title defense against a still unnamed opponent on Dec. 7.
Ancajas was set to stake his crown against Mexico’s Jonathan Javier Rodriguez at the Dignity Health Sports Park in nearby Carson last Saturday night but the bout was cancelled when the challenger was issued his US visa only a day before the weigh-in, making it impossible to complete the state’s medical exams required for a clearance to fight.
Ancajas, manager/trainer Joven Jimenez, nutritionist Jeaneth Aro and assistant Fernando Parcon, Jr. arrived here from Manila last Oct. 18. Ancajas and Jimenez will remain in the city until they leave for Mexico. Aro and Parcon left for Manila yesterday. Parcon will be back on Nov. 17 but Aro is unable to return because of commitments with national athletes performing in the Southeast Asian Games.
Jimenez said Ancajas will train either at the 9Round Gym in Hermosa Beach or Marvin Somodio’s Combinations Boxing Academy in Lawndale, whichever is closer to their home base. At the moment, the Ancajas team is staying in a rented three-storey home in Redondo Beach but will vacate on Thursday to move into another place.
For Ancajas, the goal is to stay focused and keep within reach of the superflyweight limit of 115 pounds. A few minutes before finding out the fight was cancelled late last Thursday afternoon, Ancajas had already made weight. Now, his weight is up to 130 pounds, the maximum Aro has allowed for him to resume training without burning out. Aro said she will monitor Ancajas’ weight and diet daily on a remote basis.
Since the cancellation, Ancajas took a two-day break from training. Last night, he watched his first NBA game live at the Staples Center where the Los Angeles Clippers played the Utah Jazz. Today, he goes back to the gym to restart his grind. Jimenez said he’s careful not to over-train Ancajas considering he began preparing for his defense three months ago. “We’ll do 60 to 70 percent,” said Jimenez. “If we did one hour of shadow and mitts before, we’ll do 45 minutes now. We’ll spar only up to four to six rounds with Jobert (Alvarez) and maybe, one more fighter whom we can get in L. A. In Redondo Beach, we were closer to 9Round than Marvin’s gym but we’ll decide where to train as soon as (MP Promotions head) Sir Sean (Gibbons) finds a new place for us to stay in.”
Photo: Top Rank CEO Bob Arum and IBF superflyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas in Carson, California, last Saturday night (photo by Jhay Otamias)
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Paciones fights Laspoña tomorrow at Elorde gym
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 23 May 2026STATEMENT MADE! AMARI “THE REAPER” JONES DEFEATS VINCENZO “IL CAPO” GUALTIERI IN IBF MIDDLEWEIGHT WORLD TITLE ELIMINATOR
Sat, 23 May 2026Castillano stops Rosales in 1st round
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 23 May 2026ProBoxTV Goes Global This Saturday with Two Action-Packed International Events Broadcast Live on One Sensational Saturday
Sat, 23 May 2026Oleksandr Usyk Returns Against Unknown Boxer on RING/DAZN PPV
By Chris Carlson, Sat, 23 May 2026Ayala Lardizabal stops Mama as IBA PRO 18 delivers dramatic night in Mexico City
Sat, 23 May 2026MF PRO Launches U.S. Boxing Debut with “Pugilist Revolution” Featuring "H2O" Sylve vs. Joseph “JoJo” Diaz in Southern California Showdown
Sat, 23 May 2026Dela Cerna fights Lastimosa on June 21 in Muntilupa
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 23 May 2026USA Boxing Elite High Performance Squad Posts Another Seven-Win Day in Colombia
Sat, 23 May 20262026 NBA Playoffs: Knicks Beat Cavaliers 109-93 Behind Hart’s Postseason Career-High 26 in East Finals
By Reylan Loberternos, Fri, 22 May 2026Rep. Barzaga invited in Bakbakan sa Putatan
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 22 May 2026Weights Set from San Jose: Amari Jones and Vincenzo Gualtieri Cleared for IBF Middleweight Eliminator
Fri, 22 May 20262026 NBA Playoffs: Gilgeous-Alexander Back to MVP Form as Thunder Top Spurs 122-113 in West Game 2
By Reylan Loberternos, Fri, 22 May 2026IBA flag raised at the peak of Mount Everest following historic ascent
Fri, 22 May 2026Jacamos fights for vacant WBC Youth World junior fly in South Africa on May 23
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 22 May 2026