Ancajas ramps up preps for IBF title defense

FILE — Jerwin Ancajas. Photo by Mark Giongco

Jerwin Ancajas and his expanded team have settled down in Corpus Christi, Texas, quickly buckling down to work on their fight plan against Mexican challenger Israel Gonzalez, who arrived via the same plane from Los Angeles on Sunday.

The International Boxing Federation junior bantamweight champion spent Monday sweating it out twice under the supervision of head trainer Joven Jimenez, who doubles as his manager.

In the morning, they worked out at the fitness center of Holiday Inn Downtown Marina, where Team Ancajas and Gonzalez’s entourage were billeted for their 115-pound crown showdown on Saturday (Sunday in Manila).

They were able to train at a local gym in the afternoon, making sure that Ancajas’ weight is in check for the official weigh-in on Friday.

While in Los Angeles, Team Ancajas, which also includes another Panabo City pro boxer, Mark Anthony Barriga, was reinforced by US-based Filipinos Rodel Mayol and Roberto Jalnaiz, whose combined ring experience will come in handy for Ancajas’ fourth title defense.

Mayol, the former World Boxing Council light flyweight titlist, will closely watch Gonzalez’s hand wrapping before the 12-round fight set at the 10,000-seat American Bank Center while Jalnaiz, an Asian Games bantamweight gold medalist and two-time Olympian, will take charge of the team’s other concerns in Texas.

It was another hectic day for Team Ancajas as they were treated to dinner by members of the Filipino community in the coastal city.