(The scheduled fight between champion Jerwin Ancajas and Mexico’s Jonathan Javier Rodriguez was canceled after the challenger failed to get a US visa—Ed.)
Jerwin Ancajas of the Philippines, 27, will make the eighth defense of his world super flyweight boxing crown on Nov. 2 in Carson, California, that’s Sunday morning, Manila time.
More than a victory, Ancajas swears he wants a tough opponent, a real challenge.
Ancajas is crying for blood.
A world champ since September 2016, Ancajas clearly needs greater recognition, a strong brand on his boxing career.
A member of the Philippine Navy, Ancajas has 31 wins, 21 by knockout. He has lost once and drawn twice.
He said he wanted to take risks, face the best of the best in his weight class.
Ancajas will be clashing with Mexican Jonathan Javier Rodriguez, who’s fighting out of his country for the first time.
Rodriguez, 24, has 21 wins, 15 by knockout. He has lost only once.
Ancajas said he has prepared hard to make the eighth defense of his International Boxing Federation super flyweight crown entertaining and memorable.
Ancajas had also started asking about Rodriguez who still had to show up early yesterday.
“Not so much skills, but a lot of heart,” said veteran fight scribe Nick Giongco quoting a Hispanic reporter.
In his last fight, Rodriguez scored a seventh-round stoppage, with his opponent ending up in the hospital with a head injury.
“He’s tough and loves to move forward, a real warrior,” said an excited Ancajas.
Of course, there’s also the risk of Ancajas looming too good for his unranked challenger.
In his last bout, Ancajas had to take it easy for a few rounds before stopping his overmatched opponent, the mandatory challenger Ryuichi Funai. They fought in Stockton in May and Ancajas scored a seventh-round stoppage.
Anyway, going by his lengthy reign, it’s a bit perplexing that Ancajas has not earned ample recognition.
His title fights were on the whole uneven, if not forgettable.
Ancajas needs a career-defining victory, something of the truly noble kind.
He must be able to move out of the shadow of his main patron, Sen. Manny Pacquiao.