Ancajas to show he’s ready for world boxing spotlight

Jerwin Ancajas confidently mounts the weighing scale as MP promotions

Corpus Christi, Texas—On US soil, before a global audience, Jerwin Ancajas is ready to introduce himself to the world.

He carries a mounting pressure brought about by the lofty expectations—he is being touted as the next Filipino global boxing star after Sen. Manny Pacquiao, a curse of a label enough to buckle those who have to deal with it.

But as he dangles the International Boxing Federation junior bantamweight crown against Mexican Israel Gonzalez on Saturday night (Sunday in Manila) at American Bank Center here, Ancajas intends to use the comparison as motivation.

“I’ll do my best,” said Ancajas, whose reputation rocketed after he stopped three title challengers last year. “I’ll turn the pressure into motivation. I hope to reach even a lowly level of what Sir Manny has achieved.”

For now, the pride of Panabo City residing in Magallanes, Cavite, is focused on the task at hand—beating Gonzalez convincingly, preferably in explosive fashion. This is first foray after all, into boxing’s mainstream— his fight will be aired by ESPN.

“I’m not thinking of anything else right now,” said Ancajas, after checking in at 114.75 pounds in Friday’s official weigh-in. “My mind is focused (on the fight).”

Gonzalez came in even lighter at 114 lbs, a shade below the limit.

After taking a nap, Ancajas will have a hearty dinner of fried fish, chicken tinola and beefsteak to recover the nutrients he lost in the process of shedding excess poundage the whole week.

The target is to climb the ring at 128 lbs.

Though tagged a heavy favorite owing to his impressive record of 28 wins, 1 loss and 1 draw, with 19 knockouts, Ancajas is not taking Gonzalez (21-1, 8 KOs) lightly.

The 26-year-old Ancajas said he would take his time during the 12-round bout, studying the movements and testing the power of the Mexican early on before going on attack mode.

Gonzalez, younger at 21, is also seeing action in the US for the first time and is eager to make a lasting impact.

“I’m very happy for this opportunity. I came here to win the title,” said Gonzalez, who’s listed at 5-foot-6 like Ancajas but appears to be taller. “I’m going to frustrate him (Ancajas). I’m going in and out. Counterpunch when needed. I want to become the first world champion from Los Cabos (his hometown).”

While Ancajas owns a higher knockout rate (63 percent), Gonzalez seems to be gaining power, having stopped five of his last eight opponents.

That’s why Joven Jimenez, Ancajas’ chief trainer, cautions his ward to be always on guard for the Mexican’s power punches—the left hook and right straight.

Gonzalez, who did 10 weeks of high-altitude training back home, claims fighting southpaws like Ancajas poses no problem as he has two left-handers among his victims.

What he doesn’t know is that Ancajas is a natural right hander who was converted into a lefty by his amateur coaches back in Davao del Norte.

And if Gonzalez used Ancajas’ sixth-round disposal of Irish James Conlan in Belfast last November as basis for his preparations, he’ll be in for a rude awakening.

Ancajas chiefly employed 1-2 combinations in that bout; he’ll be unloading volumes of punches this time.

To show the world he is superstar material, Ancajas plans to put on a show and his camp believes even a judges’ win will be a letdown.