Ancajas, Magsayo in must-win fights
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 23 Mar 2021
Ancajas (L) and Magsayo.
IBF superflyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas and IBF No. 4 featherweight Mark Magsayo aren’t leaving anything to chance when they take on dangerous opponents at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, on April 10 with their future on the line. Ancajas makes the ninth defense of his title against mandatory Mexican challenger Jonathan Javier Rodriguez while Magsayo battles Houston veteran Pablo Cruz. Both fights will be shown on the One Sports Plus channel via Cignal TV, sponsored by Big Boss Cement, Sunday morning, April 11 (Manila time).
“Rodriguez is a typical Mexican warrior,” said MP Promotions head Sean Gibbons from Los Angeles in a virtual press conference hosted by Noli Eala for Big Boss Cement yesterday. “You know what you’re getting with guys like (Juan Francisco) Estrada or Chocolatito (Gonzalez) or (Srisaket Sor) Rungvisai. But Rodriguez is hungry and he’s coming with nothing to lose. Remember he once put a guy (Felipe Orocuta) in a coma. For Jerwin, it’s hard to stay on top but the champ’s like a surgeon, he’ll break you down little by little. Skills will pay the bills. It’ll be an explosive fight with the Filipino-Mexican rivalry in focus like Senator Manny’s fights against Barrera, Morales and Marquez.”
Ancajas said he can’t afford to lose because the fight is the key to unlock the door for a unification. He hasn’t fought since December 2019 but the layoff is no problem. Ancajas said he waited over a year for his crack at the IBF throne and when it came to engage McJoe Arroyo in 2016, he made sure there would be no turning back. “Nasa plano ng Panginoon,” he said. “Never akong nag-lose hope.” Gibbons said with Estrada and Gonzalez poised for a rubber match, Rungvisai looms as Ancajas’ next target. “I’ve spoken with Eddie Hearn about Rungvisai for a fight,” said Gibbons. “We’re not looking past Rodriguez but moving forward, we want Jerwin in for a signature fight against big names and it could start with Rungvisai.”
Magsayo, 25, said he’s learned a lot from trainers Freddie Roach and Marvin Somodio. He’ll be a step closer to a world title shot with a convincing win over Cruz who has won seven of his last eight bouts. Cruz, 34, totes a 21-3 record, with 6 KOs compared to Magsayo’s 21-0, with 14 KOs. “Cruz is one-dimensional,” said Gibbons. “All he wants is to get in your face. Mark should be able to put him away in an action-packed war.” Magsayo said he’s now eight pounds over the limit and making weight won’t be an issue with a little more than two weeks to go.
Ancajas said like Magsayo, he’s on track to make weight. “Sa ngayon, nasa 90 to 95 percent ready na ako,” he said. Manager/trainer Joven Jimenez said Ancajas stays sharp sparring with Jonas Sultan, two-time US amateur champion Scrappy Ramirez and Christian Robles. Gibbons said the fight against Rodriguez is “a long time coming” after it was postponed twice. Ancajas has joined Al Haymon at Premier Boxing Champions but Gibbons said there’s no animosity with previous promoter Top Rank. “We want Jerwin to face the best of the best and Al is open to working with other promoters to get him the best fights out there,” he said.
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