Jerwin Ancajas keeps crown

Jerwin Ancajas took one more step toward global acclaim on Sunday with a dominant performance against Jose Alfredo Rodriguez in Macau.

Flaunting tactical skills and power, Ancajas forced the Mexican to quit after the seventh round and retained his International Boxing Federation junior bantamweight crown at The Venetian.

Landing jabs, left straights, right hooks and body shots in the last two rounds, Ancajas so frustrated Rodriguez that the Mexican was unable to answer the eighth round opening bell due to shoulder injury.

The 25-year-old Ancajas, a southpaw, improved his record to 26-1-1 with 17 knockouts and pulled down the 27-year-old Rodriguez to 32-5, 19 KOs.

It was the 13th straight victory for Ancajas, 12 of them via stoppage. Only the heralded former champion McJoe Arroyo of Puerto Rico was able to withstand the pounding of the pride of Panabo City, Davao del Norte, last September.

Ancajas, being promoted by MP Promotions of Sen. Manny Pacquiao, is hoping that his lopsided victory over Rodriguez will pave the way for more lucrative fights.

According to trainer/manager Joven Jimenez, Ancajas is likely to fight again either in April or May. —Roy Luarca