Former Panabo World Boxing Champ to move up in weight in future fights
Former Panabo World Boxing Champ  to move up in weight in future fights
DAVAO CITY –Former International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior bantamweight champion, Panabo City native Jerwin Ancajas said he will not ask for a rematch against undefeated Argentinian opponent Fernando Martinez who defeated and stripped him of his title on February 27 via a unanimous decision win at the Cosmopolitan Arena in Las Vegas.

Ancajas, 30 revealed instead of a rematch he will just move up in weight in his future fights since it is now hard for him to meet the weight of a junior bantamweight division.

“I will not go for a rematch. I saw his punches coming, I knew what I had to do but my body did not respond. I felt heavy and my reflexes were not there. I need to move up in weight for my next fight,” Ancajas said.

Earlier, the three judges scored of the bout at 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.)

Photo: Radyo Pilipinas 2 FB page
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