Inoue quicker on draw
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 26 Feb 2024
Defending WBA bantamweight champion Takuma Inoue and Filipino challenger Jerwin Ancajas were like gunslingers on a lonely Wild West street facing each other at the Ryogoku Kokugikan National Sumo Arena in Tokyo last Saturday night. They banged each other’s body with ruthless abandon from the onset but when it came to winning time, Inoue was quicker on the draw as he landed two rights to the solar plexus, sending Ancajas down on all fours for good at 0:44 of the ninth round.
Ancajas took two short hammer-like uppers in the pit of his stomach during a fierce exchange and in a delayed reaction, dropped to his knees. He tried to get up at the count of four but stayed on his knees then rolled over as referee Mark Nelson embraced him to signal it was over. The punches sucked the wind out of Ancajas’ sails. A blow to the solar plexus at the point of inhaling will lead to a drowning sensation and a panic because the victim isn’t able to breathe. From the way Ancajas and Inoue attacked the body, either fighter would’ve been knocked out with a dig to the midsection. Inoue got to Ancajas first.
“It was nip and tuck until the end,” said MP Promotions head Sean Gibbons who was at ringside. “A shot to the solar plexus will paralyze you for about 15 to 20 seconds then you’re fine as soon as your breath comes back. I had it even, four rounds each, before the ninth. I thought Jerwin hurt Inoue more than he got hurt up to the knockout. Inoue was quicker with his punches and combinations.”
Ancajas and his traveling party will arrive in Manila tonight. Ancajas’ manager/trainer Joven Jimenez said they’ll head straight to Magallanes, Cavite. “Sobrang lungkot, medyo apektado pamilya namin,” said Jimenez.
Ancajas got off to a strong start, leading off with a right jab then stepping in to land a left straight out of his southpaw stance. In the third, Inoue set the pace, countering with lefts over the top and rights down the middle. In the fourth, Inoue went toe-to-toe with Ancajas and was tagged with a right that rocked his head back. The Japanese controlled the action from a distance in the fifth and sixth as Ancajas slowed down. Inoue slipped and slid away from Ancajas’ rushes, making the Filipino miss more than he connected. In the eighth, Ancajas and Inoue traded bombs to the body and it looked like a knockout was in the offing, either way. Inoue found the precise timing to end it in the ninth.
Judge Alex Levin of Florida had it, 77-75 while judges Luigi Boscarelli of Italy and Byung Mu Kim saw it 78-74, all for Inoue, at the time of the stoppage. Levin scored three of the first four rounds for Ancajas.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER FOR MEDINA VS. CURIEL IN MEXICO, PLUS MAIN EVENT QUOTES
Fri, 06 Feb 2026Rene Tellez Giron & Luis Torres Battle for Mexican Pride in 10-Round Main Event of ProBoxTV’s ‘The Contender Series’
Fri, 06 Feb 2026Gomera and Ding are set to clash for the WBC Asia 126 belt
By Carlos Costa, Thu, 05 Feb 2026“Thunderdome 53 is stacked and I cant wait to see these fights March 13 at Thunderdome 53 - Promoter Tony Tolj
Thu, 05 Feb 2026WORLD ELITE SUMO MAKES ITS PRUDENTIAL CENTER DEBUT ON SATURDAY, APRIL 18
Thu, 05 Feb 2026Sumalinog Brothers Score Wins in Bohol; Sign with Monty Flores (PHOTOS)
By Carlos Costa, Thu, 05 Feb 2026MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT WITH TEAM BOXING LEAGUE
Thu, 05 Feb 2026Trifon Petrov unveils the signing of another USA Team member in Ariana Carrasco
Thu, 05 Feb 2026Jerome Gonzales off to a marvelous start in J&P 10 Ball Cup at Pacman's Cue Club
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 05 Feb 2026DCL amateur MMA on Feb. 21 at Sta. Lucia Mall
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 05 Feb 2026THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 3 FEBRUARY 2026: Shakur Schools Teofimo to Become 4-Division Champ; Zayas Unifies WBA/WBO Superwelter; Kelly Beats Murtazaliev
By Eric Armit, Wed, 04 Feb 2026Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimán: A Grand Week for Boxing in NY
By Mauricio Sulaimán, Wed, 04 Feb 2026Boxlab Promotions Euri Cedeno and Carlos De Leon Castro Shine in San Juan Victories
Wed, 04 Feb 2026National Boxing Hall of Fame 2026 is set to April 26 in Montebello, California
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 04 Feb 2026Vito Mielnicki Jr. Returns Home to Defend WBC USA, IBF USBA and WBO Global Middleweight Championships Against Omar Ulises Huerta
Wed, 04 Feb 2026