FILE–Argentina’s Fernando Daniel Martinez (R) is a former Olympia looking for his first big break. (Photo by Yuri CORTEZ / AFP)
MANILA, Philippines—Fernando Martinez’s challenge for Jerwin Ancajas’ IBF super flyweight title isn’t just about the two boxers but also about their esteemed mentors.
Ancajas, being under MP Promotions, is probably one of Manny Pacquiao’s most successful wards while Martinez trains under the tutelage of two-division champion Marcos Maidana.
Martinez, in an interview with RingTV.com, said challenging Ancajas, who has both experience and lengthy reign with the strap, for his first world title is the break he needs for his career.
“(His experience) gives me even more expectation. I have to go and fight a champion, and a very experience one at that. I am very excited because I always wanted to fight the best and I am made for this. This one will be a historic event for me, it will be a very emotional moment, it is a dream come true,” said Martinez (13-0).
The 30-year-old Argentinian added that fighting Ancajas (33-1-2), who’s held the IBF title since 2016, won’t just be a physical tussle but also a mental game.
FILE –Filipino boxer Jerwin Ancajas. AFP FILE PHOTO
While both Ancajas and Martinez are of the same age, the Filipino started his professional career in 2009 and his title reign began even before Maidana’s student–who was a former Olympian– turned pro.
“I believe it will be a chess game. Just like every other great fight. With a great fighter like Ancajas, you make the slightest mistake and you can end up on the canvas,” said Martinez. “We both know that we both can punch very hard, and we know it will be a war. He is a good fighter, a good boxer, I think we will have a great fight.”
Maidana, meanwhile, posited that Martinez will pull no punches against Ancajas.
El Chino added that Martinez’s title challenge is the “poor man’s version” of his own dream matchup against Pacquiao.
“Above all, I wanted to emphasize that we will be fighting a fighter from Manny Pacquiao’s stable. And we believe we’re going to beat him,” said Maidana, who never fought Pacquiao but had two unsuccessful challenges against Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2014.
“Martinez will have to go out there and fight, without giving (Ancajas) any respect, without allowing him to think, just run over him and overwhelm him with punches. And that’s where the champions begin to think and to feel desperate about losing their title and start losing control,” added Maidana. “I believe that (Ancajas) is a very technical fighter and Martinez goes forward all the time. (Ancajas) is a southpaw, and they tend to receive a lot of crosses, and Martinez throws a lot of those.