Jerwin Ancajas: Relaxed and ready

Jerwin Ancajas at lobby of Holiday Inn Corpus Christi Downtown Marina. Photo by Roy Luarca/INQUIRER

Corpus Christi, Texas— Just one pound above the weight limit, Jerwin Ancajas found a moment to relax Wednesday night.

Right after a meet and greet at Rockit’s Whiskey Bar & Saloon Wednesday night, the International Boxing Federation junior bantamweight champion rode back to Holiday Inn Downtown Marina, where he and Mexican challenger Israel Gonzalez were billeted for their title duel at American Bank Center on Saturday here.

Ancajas went directly to his 15th floor room, changed into sleeping clothes, turned off the light, and dropped on the king-sized bed.

He crawled inside the bedsheet, pulled out his mobile phone, put the ear plugs on and shut himself out from distractions.

Eyes closed, Ancajas reminisced on his journey so far.

Lured by his brother, Jesar, into the sport, Ancajas won in the 2008 Palarong Pambansa in Palawan and was named best boxer in the Philippine National Games four years earlier.

He turned pro at 17 in 2009, won the IBF crown from Puerto Rican McJoe Arroyo in 2016 and defended it thrice against Mexican Jose Alfredo Rodriguez, Japanese Teiru Kinoshita and Irish Jamie Conlan in succession last year.

Finally realizing his goal of fighting in the United States, Ancajas is now looking forward to attaining global recognition like his idol and benefactor, eight-division champion Sen. Manny Pacquiao.

The first step is to beat Gonzalez convincingly. And on fight night, Ancajas plans to be patient, stalking his prey, before going for the kill.

That would be easier said than done. Gonzalez, who was riding a 13-bout unbeaten streak before an upset to lightly regarded countryman Argi Cortes, promises to keep on winning.

“I don’t want to lose again,” Gonzalez told Filipino media through an interpreter before his open workout at Neighborhood Center Boxing Club Wednesday afternoon.

Since that defeat, he has racked up eight wins, five by knockouts, and was rewarded with a title shot against Ancajas.

Having studied videos of Ancajas’ last few fights, Gonzalez knows he is in for a rough, tough night.

“He’s aggressive, a strong fighter with fast hands,” said Gonzalez, whose 21-1, 8 knockout record pales in comparison to Ancajas’ (28-1-1, 19 KOs) card.

Gonzalez trained in high altitude for two and a half months at Jiquipilco, 40 kilometers north of the famed Toluca Mountains. He also sparred for over 100 rounds.

Gonzalez, who learned boxing from his grandfather and an uncle, said he intends to exploit Ancajas’ “predictable” footwork, and lure the Filipino into a punch.

With the official weigh-in set Friday afternoon, Gonzalez said he’s just a little above the 115-pound limit.

“I don’t feel any pressure,” said Gonzalez, youngest among 10 siblings. “The pressure is on Ancajas and I’m going to give it to him.”