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:
THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 2 DECEMBER 2025: Kavaliauskas Wins by Split Decision Over Molina; Whittaker Stops Gavazi in 1; Malajika Wins by UD Over Paras
By Eric Armit, Wed, 03 Dec 2025WBC Strips Terence Crawford of Super Middle Title
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 03 Dec 2025Soledad wins WBC Asian Continental title
By Lito delos Reyes, Wed, 03 Dec 2025A night of power, legacy, and UAE pride: IBA Men’s World Boxing Championships opens in spectacular fashion in Dubai
Wed, 03 Dec 2025OKC Thunder is NBA 2025-2026 Strongest Team
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 03 Dec 2025Who was Clever Sison?
By Joaquin Henson, Wed, 03 Dec 2025MATCHROOM BOXING RETURNS TO FONTAINEBLEAU LAS VEGAS WITH MURATALLA-CRUZ FIGHT, JAN. 24, 2026
Wed, 03 Dec 2025TRAINING CAMP NOTES: Undefeated Featherweight Luis Nuñez Prepares for Hector Sosa Showdown on PBC on Prime Video
Wed, 03 Dec 2025Darry Bernardo, 4 other Pinoys in hot start in 3rd Asian Chess Championship 2025 for players with disabilities
By Marlon Bernardino, Wed, 03 Dec 2025Two Pacquiaos on same card?
By Joaquin Henson, Tue, 02 Dec 2025OLYMPIC BOXING 4: 1924 OLYMPICS AT PARIS, FRANCE
By Maloney L. Samaco, Tue, 02 Dec 2025Cebuana Lhuillier-Backed UTP National Team Shines at 40th Penang Open, Captures Multiple Titles
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 02 Dec 2025WBC 63th Annual Convention Opens in Bangkok
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Tue, 02 Dec 2025Undefeated Brooklyn heavyweight prospect Pryce Taylor closing out a strong 2026
Tue, 02 Dec 2025USA Boxing Announces Partnership with Xempower USA
Tue, 02 Dec 2025