Can Ancajas shoot for Chocolatito?

Handlers have all the reason to be very excited about Filipino world boxing champion Jerwin Ancajas, who made a successful first defense of his IBF super flyweight crown in Macau on Sunday.  At the same time though, they should practice caution, lest the celebrations get out of hand.

For one, the conquest of Mexican journeyman Jose Alfredo Rodriguez, who failed to answer the bell for the 8th round, could appear sensational enough.  Ancajas did display vast improvement, at the same time showcasing his well-rounded prowess.

A second look at the stoppage, caused by a shoulder problem on the part of the overmatched challenger,  would however  show that the victory was not truly grand as had been pictured.

It cannot pass off as a true confirmation or legit tough test.

It’s like this.  The great Gabriel Elorde loved to say that, in the exacting world of professional boxing, a champion could get confirmed only after he has succeeded in his first title defense. That was quite believable in the era of Elorde, when a champion came in pure solid form, when there was no over-supply of half-baked titlists caused by the proliferation of alphabet soup boxing associations.

Elorde was WBA junior lightweight champion for over seven years. He faced the toughest in his division, after stopping Harold Gomes of Rhode Island at Araneta Coliseum in March 1960.

Ancajas was sensational in grabbing the IBF 115-lb crown from McJoe Arroyo of Puerto Rico in Taguig City last September. It was one of the big upsets of the past year.

In Macau on Sunday, Ancajas had a punching picnic, and completed his first title defense practically trouble-free.

An unnerving truth would surface after the mismatch: Rodriguez had no business fighting for the crown.

The Mexican, a certified patsy, was a picture of total ineptitude.

Ancajas now has a record of 26 wins, 1 loss and 1 draw, 17 KOs, winning 12 of his last 13 fights by knockout.

Rodriguez fell to 32-5, 19 KOs.

As noted by Jake Donovan of FightScene.com, Rodriguez did absolutely nothing to earn the title shot on Sunday. Donovan said the Mexican has fallen miserably short on the stage. He was outclassed by Alberto Rossel last April and, without winning or fighting his way back into contention, was sent to Japan where he served as cannon fodder for Kazuto Ioka in a 108-lb title bout.

Well, we can’t blame Ancajas for facing a worthless foe in his first title defense. He did not choose Rodriguez.

There’s a problem. There’s suddenly risen a suggestion for Ancajas to try and go after the unbeaten Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez, reigning world pound-for-pound king.

Not so fast please. As Flash Elorde loved to say, Wag kang bara-bara, Bay, don’t be reckless.

Liberation Harana

There’ll be love in the air today in the Mandaluyong Children Choir’s Harana Mandaleno Liberation concert at Kaban ng Hiyas Auditorium, City Hall Compound, starting at 6 p.m. There’ll be special numbers from the guest choir of the Association of Senior Citizens in Mandaluyong. The concert is being presented by Mayor Menchie Abalos and the City Government on its 72nd Liberation Day and 23rd Cityhood Anniversary.