Anjacas, 30 suffered a unanimous decision defeat at the hands of his undefeated Argentinian opponent Fernando Martinez who improved to 14-0 (8 KOs) at the Cosmopolitan Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, February 26 (Sunday, February 27, Manila time).
The three judges scored the bout 118-110, 118-110, 117-111 in favor of the Argentinian, with the Filipino champion succumbing in his 10th title defense.
Ancajas (33-2, 22 KOs) was originally scheduled to fight the three-division world champion and World Boxing Organization titleholder Kazuto Ioka of Japan on December 31.
But due to Omicron, Japan has tightened its borders so the supposed December showdown between Ancajas and Ioka has been canceled.
Before his defeat, Ancajas was considered the longest world boxing champion in the Philippines.
It was learned Ancajas held his championship belt since 2016 and already defended it nine times, the last one against a Mexican challenger on April 11.
Anjacajas beat Mexican challenge, Jonathan Javier Rodriguez, via a unanimous decision at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.
The professional boxer overcame lack of air to eke out a win against Rodriguez who fought gallantly in the entire 12 rounds of their fight.
Anjacas dominated the boxing bout from the get-go even out down to the canvass Rodriguez in the eight-round of their fight.
The Filipino boxing champion was happy with his win against Rodriguez who dropped to 22 wins and two defeats.
Ancajas admitted his long layoff from boxing due to COVID-19 affected his performance in his title defense.
Anjacas last fought on December 7, 2019, where he scored a sixth-round knockout win over Puerto Rico’s Miguel Gonzalez in Puebla, Mexico.
Ancajas fought two times in 2019 but none last year. (Romeo Braceros Jr.)
International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior bantamweight champion and Panabo City native Jerwin Ancajas. (Photo: Jerwin Ancajas FB page)
Facebook Conversations