FILE – Jerwin Ancajas of the Philippines gestures to fans after defeating Ryuichi Funai of Japan in their 12-round Super Flyweight IBF World Title fight in Stockton, California on May 4, 2019. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP)
MANILA, Philippines — IBF super flyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas didn’t lose his cool over John Riel Casimero’s tirade after the WBO bantamweight titleholder referred to his compatriot as a “child” in a Facebook post recently.
Ancajas also said he is grateful that he drew Casimero’s interest after being included in his social media post on Sunday.
“Nagpapasalamat ako sayo unang-una John Riel at least napansin mo ako sa katayuan mo, sa kasikatan mo,” Ancajas said in a video.
(Thank you first and foremost John Riel for noticing me despite your stature and popularity.)
“Kahit na respeto man lang. Kahit yung banggitin na lang yung pangalan ko na Jerwin. Pero ‘bata’ yung tawag mo sakin. Yun lang. Masaya ako sa mga naabot mo,” he added.
(Maybe you could’ve showed some respect. You should’ve just mentioned my name. But instead you called me ‘kid.’ That’s all. I’m happy for all you’ve achieved.)
Casimero’s Facebook post was in response to a report that Top Rank chief Bob Arum has named Ancajas as a possible opponent for undefeated Japanese champion Naoya Inoue.
“Tatang Bob haha. Sinawsaw mo pa tong isang bata mo. Wala nang depensa, hindi pa gaanong sumisikat kasi binibigyan mo lang ng mga mahinang kalaban. Paano yan sisikat? Siguro ito na lang gagawin mo na isasawsaw mo na lang sa akin para sumikat. haha. Tatang Bob, ano ba ‘tong pinagagagawa mo? haha,” Casimero posted on Facebook.
(You even involved your other ward in this Bob. He’s not even that famous yet and he has no defense because you’ve only been giving him weak opponents. You’re trying to make him popular by involving his name with mine. What are you trying to do, Bob?)
Ancajas said he’s just following orders from the promotion.
“Ako naman sumusunod lang ako mga plano nila sa Top Rank. Sumusunod lang ako sa mga plano ng nakakataas sakin, kasi boksingero ako. May mga boss tayo sa boxing,” said Ancajas.
(I just follow Top Rank’s plans and the plans of our higher-ups, because I’m a boxer. We have bosses here in boxing.)
Inoue and Casimero were supposed to figure in a title unification showdown last April before it got postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The bout, however, was never rescheduled with Casimero and Inoue ended up successfully defending their respective titles against separate foes.