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:
Efe Ajagba vs Charles Martin: Zuffa Heavyweights Square Off on Sunday
By Chris Carlson, Sun, 15 Feb 2026“The Nightmare” Back in Action: Oguni vs Tapales April 3 in Japan
By Carlos Costa, Sun, 15 Feb 2026Cold Comfort: Tapales and Vitor Frozen Out in Moscow Heartbreaker
By Dong Secuya, Sat, 14 Feb 2026WBC Celebrates 63 years of dedication to the sports and fighters
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Sat, 14 Feb 2026BOXING STARS FROM AROUND THE WORLD LINING UP FOR 2026 HALL OF FAME WEEKEND IN "BOXING’S HOMETOWN"
Sat, 14 Feb 2026Filipino Boxers Make Weight in Brico Santig's Valentine's Show in Thailand
By Carlos Costa, Sat, 14 Feb 2026Filipinos Vitor and Tapales Take on Russians for IBF Asia Titles in Moscow Today
By Dong Secuya, Fri, 13 Feb 2026Manny Pacquiao Promotions Returns to Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, Calif. with a Pair of World Championship Bouts
Fri, 13 Feb 2026IOAN CROFT AND GARAN CROFT SIGN FOR MATCHROOM BOXING AS EDDIE HEARN LOOKS AHEAD TO BRIGHT FUTURE FOR EXCITING WELSH TWINS
Fri, 13 Feb 20263 Division World Champion & Hall of Famer Marco Antonio Barrera Confirmed for Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Cinco De Mayo Weekend, Saturday May 2, in Las Vegas
Fri, 13 Feb 2026Day One Concludes at 2026 USA Boxing International Open
Thu, 12 Feb 2026Female Boxing GOAT Katie Taylor to be Special guest at All-N.E. Golden Gloves Thursday, Feb. 12, in Lowell, MA
Thu, 12 Feb 2026Brandon McCarthy Signs with Wise Owl Boxing, Set to Make Noise at 135 lbs
Thu, 12 Feb 2026Filipino Boxers Set for Action on Valentine's Day in Thailand
By Carlos Costa, Wed, 11 Feb 2026Oklahoma Outplays LA Lakers, 119-110; Arrests Skid to Hold on to League Lead
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Wed, 11 Feb 2026