Second Overtime: As a pandemic grips boxing, Joven Jimenez leans on his faith
By Homer D. Sayson
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 24 Mar 2020
Team Ancajas.
CHICAGO -- It was a Monday, March 16. Another week looms and a trip to Las Vegas, Nevada lay just four days away.
But for Joven Jimenez, it was just another day. Another grind.
The champion trainer was with his prized ward Jerwin Ancajas and they were navigating their way to an undisclosed location in Makati to put in a solid round of training.
And then the phone rang.
It was Sean Gibbons on the other end of the line.
Gibbons, the president of Manny Pacquiao Promotions, is usually a leaky hydrant of joy and happiness, but he was less jovial in this particular hook up.
There was some unpleasant development to relay. The coronavirus has crippled the world and sports wasn't spared, bringing all forms of recreation unto its helpless knees, including boxing.
Gibbons told Joven that Ancajas' ninth title defense of his IBF super flyweight title scheduled at April 11 at the swanky Cosmopolitan Hotel and Casino nestled on the famous Las Vegas strip has been shelved for now.
The news was unsettling. But it was also oddly familiar.
Last November, Jimenez received the same disappointing news when Jerwin's scheduled defense in Carson, California was called off because his then challenger, Jonathan Rodriguez, encountered visa problems.
Joven Jimenez (L) and Jerwin Ancajas in training.
Ancajas had a 35-day furlough and eventually defended his title for the eighth time by stopping Miguel Gonzalez in six rounds at the Auditorio GNP Seguros in Puebla, Mexico last December 7.
Ancajas' reset April 11 meeting with Rodriguez, who has since been cleared to fight in the United States, was supposed to be Ancajas' maiden bout in glitzy Las Vegas, the mecca of modern day boxing.
And then the pandemic happened.
A man of staunch faith, Jimenez took the setback surprisingly well.
"God is great. Protectahan po tayo lahat sa sakit lalo na sa coronavirus," (God is great. He will protect us all from illness especially the coronavirus) Jimenez told PhilBoxing.com.
The inconvenience and the uncertainty of a new fight date doesn't bother Jimenez, either.
"Tinatanggap ng maluwag para madaling maka move on sir. Focus agad sa training," (We are taking this in stride so we can move on swiftly and focus on training) he added.
So the game plan for now, Jimenez explained, is to make sure that Jerwin stays sharp and trim without burning out. A huge key to that is reducing the volume and intensity of training sessions.
As for Jerwin's food intake, nutritionist Jeaneth Aro remains on Team Ancajas monitoring breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Aro told PhilBoxing.com that Jerwin's meals are based on a typical Filipino diet consisting of healthy choices. His intakes include eggs, fruits. rice. meat and vegetables.
Jerwin also shrugs postponement.
It's part of the job, he says. But he will be ready when the bells rings.
Whenever and wherever that may be.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Homer D. Sayson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
FISHER STEPS UP AGAINST BABIC AT COPPER BOX ARENA ON JULY 6
Wed, 22 May 2024TICKETS TO GO ON SALE FOR WILLIAM “EL CAMARÓN” ZEPEDA VS. GIOVANNI CABRERA TOMORROW, MAY 22
Wed, 22 May 2024Junior Middleweight Contender Xander Zayas to Receive Sports Star Honor at 2024 Puerto Rican Day Parade
Wed, 22 May 2024Five King’s Gambit Online Chess School Bets Qualify for Palarong Pambansa
By Marlon Bernardino, Wed, 22 May 2024The Past Week in Action 20 May 2024: Big Day for Ukraine: Usyk Defeats Fury for Undisputed Heavyweight Title; Berinchyk Wins WBO Lightweight Title Over Navarrete; Papin, Chukhadzhian Victorious
By Eric Armit, Tue, 21 May 2024Espere Defends PBF Title Against Bravo on June 23 in Cagwait
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 21 May 2024ALI AKHMEDOV TO FACE ENCARNACION DIAZ IN WORLD-CLASS SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT DUAL ON THIS THURSDAY’S “BIG TIME BOXING USA,” EVENT, PRESENTED BY SALITA PROMOTIONS
Tue, 21 May 2024Marc Kevin Labog emerges as champion in the 9th leg of the PCAP Champions League Open chess tilt
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 21 May 2024Boxers await qualifying draw
By Joaquin Henson, Tue, 21 May 2024Boston Holds Edge in East Finals, NBA Championship Series
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Tue, 21 May 2024TWO TITLE SHOWDOWNS ROUND OUT STACKED DAVIS VS. MARTIN & BENAVIDEZ VS. GVOZDYK TOPPED PBC PAY-PER-VIEW EVENT ON PRIME VIDEO SATURDAY, JUNE 15
Tue, 21 May 2024The Heat Is On: Miami Fight Night Headlined by Teofimo Lopez-Steve Claggett Junior Welterweight World Title Showdown June 29 at James L. Knight Center LIVE on ESPN
Tue, 21 May 2024Undefeated Faizan Anwar fighting for his future this Saturday in Abu Dhabi on a loaded “Rising Stars Arabia 4” pro boxing card
Tue, 21 May 2024It's Boston Versus Indiana in the East; Minnesota Against Dallas in the West
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Mon, 20 May 2024SPORTS FACTS AND FIGURES 69: OLEKSANDR USYK BECOMES THIRD MALE TWO-DIVISION UNDISPUTED CHAMPION
By Maloney L. Samaco, Mon, 20 May 2024