Ancajas steps up training at Wild Card
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 26 Feb 2021
IBF superflyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas is set to make the ninth defense of his crown against dangerous Mexican mandatory challenger Jonathan Javier Rodriguez at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on April 17 or 24. It will be Ancajas’ first fight since halting Chile’s Miguel Gonzalez in Mexico in December 2019 and he’s been working out in Los Angeles the last five months.
Ancajas, 29, started reporting at the Wild Card Gym last Wednesday to step up training and will spar in Freddie Roach’s facility MWF with the other days in the week reserved for drills at the makeshift gym with a 16x16 ring in the backyard of the L. A. home where he stays with trainer Joven Jimenez, sparmate Jonas Sultan and Olympic middleweight qualifier Eumir Marcial.
Freddie Roach with (from left) Eumir Marcial, Jerwin Ancajas and Jonas Sultan.
Rodriguez, 25, has stayed active during the pandemic and last December, stopped Julian Yedras in the first round in Monterrey. He improved his record to 22-1, with 16 KOs compared to Ancajas’ 32-1-2, with 22 KOs. Jimenez said Ancajas and Rodriguez are friends on Facebook but they’re hardly friendly. “Pinagyayabang ni Rodriguez ang training niya, lagi may post,” said Jimenez. Ancajas isn’t taking the Mexican No. 3 contender lightly. Rodriguez gained notoriety by sending two-time world title challenger Felipe Orocuta to the hospital for seven weeks after scoring a 10th round KO in 2019. The Ancajas-Rodriguez bout has been postponed twice but it’s finally coming off the wraps in April.
Marcial trains six days a week with Roach and Marvin Somodio. He’s keeping in shape banging with heavier sparmates who can take his punch. The other day, Marcial sparred with a supermiddleweight. Marcial plans to stay in L. A. up to April then return to Manila to rejoin the ABAP team for the final training stretch before the Tokyo Olympics. A second pro fight may be in the works for Marcial but it’s not certain. Another Filipino training at Wild Card is world-ranked featherweight Mark Magsayo who’s in line for a fight on April 10.
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