SPORTS SHORTS 80: JERWIN ANCAJAS FIGHTS JONATHAN JAVIER RODRIGUEZ ON APRIL 10 AT CONNECTICUT, USA
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 15 Mar 2021
Jerwin Ancajas will have his first fight under Premier Boxing Champions when he will defend his IBF junior bantamweight championship against Jonathan Javier Rodriguez on April 10 at Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, Connecticut, United States. It will be televised over Showtime.
.* * *
The Ancajas-Rodriguez fight will serve as the opener of a tripleheader that will immediately precede the 12-round WBA welterweight elimination match between Lithuania’s Eimantas Stanionis (12-0, 9 KOs) and Puerto Rico's Thomas Dulorme (25-4-1, 16 KOs).
* * *
Philadelphia’s Jaron Ennis (26-0, 24 KOs, 1 NC) and Kazakhstan’s Sergey Lipinets (16-1-1, 12 KOs) will headline this three-bout telecast in a 12-round WBO welterweight eliminator.
.* * *
Mexico’s Rodriguez (22-1, 16 KOs) is the mandatory challenger for Anjacas’ IBF 115-pound title belt. Rodriguez is rated No. 3 by the IBF, but the top two contenders in the governing body's junior bantamweight division are declared vacant.
.* * *
Ancajas (32-1-2, 22 KOs) has not fought since he stopped Chile’s Miguel Gonzalez (31-3, 8 KOs) in the sixth round last on December 7, 2019 in Puebla, Mexico. Gonzalez was ranked 14th by the IBF at that time. Ancajas’ mandatory defense has been due since last February 2020, that's why Ancajas must face Rodriguez in the next fight.
.* * *
Ancajas amicably settled his separation from his former promoter, Top Rank Inc., early this year. The termination of a contract extension Ancajas signed made him fight for Al Haymon’s PBC, which has television contracts with Showtime and FOX.
.* * *
Ancajas' only loss was a 10-round majority decision to compatriot Mark Anthony Geraldo (then 24-5-3) on March 17, 2012 in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu. Three fights ago, Ancajas had a 12-round split draw with Mexico’s Alejandro Santiago Barrios (then 16-2-4) in September 29, 2018 at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California.
.* * *
Rodriguez, age 25 years of San Luis Potosí, Mexico has won six straight bouts since Jose Estrada Garcia defeated him by split decision in a 10-rounder in March 2018 in Monterrey, Mexico.
.* * *
Rodriguez made Felipe Orucuta, age 35 years of Atizapan de Zaragoza, Mexico, end in comatose after the fight by a 10th round technical knockout on June 7, 2019 in Mexico. Orucuta underwent a head operation to remove a blood clot, and spent nearly two months in the hospital before full recovery, never to fight again.
* * *
Rodriguez then knocked out Julian Yedras of Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico in the first round, lasting only 2 minutes and 27 seconds on December 4, 2020 in Nuevo Leon, Mexico.
* * *
But that does not trouble Ancajas, as he continues to train in Los Angeles during the pandemic. "We just keep our training and sparring for Jerwin since early last year and we’re not bothered even if he didn’t fight for a long time—that’s not a problem for us,” Ancajas’s manager Joven Jimenez was quoted by BusinessMirror.
.* * *
“What we don’t like to happen is for him to overtrain,” Jimenez added. “We are just preparing seriously against Rodriguez, and we’re only waiting for the final date and venue.” He trained in different training camps in Dipolog City, Philippine Naval Base in Cavite City and Survival Camp in Magallanes, Cavite, then went to the US.
.* * *
Ancajas and Rodriguez were scheduled to fight in November 2019 in Los Angeles, but the Mexican had visa problems. The fight was moved to April in Las Vegas, but was stalled by the Covid-19 pandemic.
.* * *
Juan Francisco Estrada defeated Roman "Chocolatito" Gonzalez by split decision in a well-fought and very close match which could become a fight of the year candidate at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas to win the WBA, the WBC and The Ring junior bantamweight titles.
* * *
Estrada (42-3, 28 KOs) and Gonzalez (50-3, 41 KOs), combined for 2,529 punches, a record in the junior bantamweight division, and connected 705, according to CompuBox. The combined total for the first bout was only 2,133 punches.
* * *
"I think I did enough to win. Chocolatito is a great fighter, and I think he deserves a trilogy," Estrada said over DAZN telecast. "I knew it was a close fight. I didn't know if I was up or down, but I knew I had to close out the fight in the last two rounds."
* * *
Gonzalez was gracious and emotional in defeat, saying, "Whatever happened, happened, but I gave it a great fight." The four-division champion said the result was what "God wanted" and that he would welcome a third bout with Estrada.
* * *
"It was a better fight than the first one," Estrada said. "I felt strong, and I felt like I won. In the last round, I gave it all. It was a great round."
* * *
Estrada's win could usher a final match in a trilogy. He is now targeting the mandatory challenger Srisaket Sor Rungvisai, the opponent he also has two split bouts. Rungvisai won the first bout by majority decision in February 24, 2018, and Estrada winning the rematch by unanimous decision in April 26, 2019.
* * *
Rungvisai also has two wins over Gonzalez, and he gave way to the Estrada-Gonzalez rematch happen. Now, the Thai challenger will be wanting to resume with a trilogy fight with Estrada.
* * *
Carmelo Anthony surged into the 11th place on the NBA's all-time scoring list, surpassing Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon by connecting a jumper with 9 minutes, 46 seconds left in the fourth quarter of the Portland Trail Blazers' 125-121 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
* * *
Olajuwon was a two-time NBA champion and 12-time All-Star with the Houston Rockets. He had a career total points of 26,946. Anthony finished with 26 points for Portland as he led their offense towards the end game.
* * *
The Ancient Olympic Games featured running events, a pentathlon (includes jumping event, discus and javelin throws, a foot race, and wrestling), boxing, wrestling, pankration, and equestrian events.
* * *
Pankration was a sporting event introduced into the Ancient Olympic Games in 648 BC and was an empty-hand submission sport with very few rules. The athletes applied boxing and wrestling techniques, also using kicking and holding, joint-locks and chokes on the ground made it similar to modern mixed martial arts.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimán: The Return of Ryan Garcia
By Mauricio Sulaimán, Wed, 25 Feb 2026“It’s moments a kid dreams off.” Sam Rennie returns for title challenge March 13 in Perth – Thunderdome 53
Wed, 25 Feb 2026‘It’s going to be a great fight and most importantly looking forward to the 10 pints together after it’ Billy Quinncroft challenges for Cruiserweight title March 13 in Perth – Thunderdome 53
Wed, 25 Feb 2026Magdalena Contreras Municipality and WBC start "Boxing for Peace" in Mexico
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 25 Feb 2026United States Captures Four More Wins on Day Two of Strandja 2026 Boxing Tournament
Wed, 25 Feb 2026Date set for Manny-Money 2
By Joaquin Henson, Wed, 25 Feb 2026Knockout Artist Sugar Martinez (17-0, 17 KOs) Makes His US Debut Against Philly Veteran Daiyan Butt
Wed, 25 Feb 2026IM Yap outwits GM Gareyev, shares lead; Maribao split the point with GM Quizon in Round 3 of the Manny Pacquiao International Open chess
By Marlon Bernardino, Wed, 25 Feb 20262 Division World Champion José Luis Castillo Confirmed for Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Cinco De Mayo Weekend, Saturday May 2, in Las Vegas
Wed, 25 Feb 2026Doors open for Manny
By Joaquin Henson, Tue, 24 Feb 2026MEXICAN TITANS GO HEAD-TO-HEAD HIGHLIGHTING CINCO DE MAYO WEEKEND IN LAS VEGAS!
Tue, 24 Feb 2026Alex Bray and Gabriela Tellez Capture WBA Titles, Dainier Pero Scores Impressive Stoppage at “Night of Champions XIV” in Orlando
Tue, 24 Feb 2026Cebuana Lhuillier Gems Officially Join Inaugural Pickle Yard Conference League
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 24 Feb 2026ADAMES AND AMMO CLASH FOR WORLD TITLE IN ORLANDO ON MARCH 21
Tue, 24 Feb 2026Filipino Alexis Emil Maribao shocks Indonesian Grandmaster Susanto Megaranto in the Manny Pacquiao International Open Chess opener
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 24 Feb 2026