JERWIN “PRETTY BOY” ANCAJAS goes for the International Boxing Federation (IBF) super flyweight belt Argentina’s Fernando Daniel Martinez took away from him last February in their rematch on Sunday at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson City, California.
Ancajas, 30, faced weight issues and lost his title via unanimous decision to Martinez at the Virgins Hotel in Las Vegas.
“I can’t wait to get in the ring.” Mark Magsayo, of Panabo City, said in Friday’s pre-match press conference. “Winning my title back is what all I have been thinking.”
“I know I have what it takes and I’m going to prove it on Saturday night [Sunday morning in Manila],” added Ancajas, who stressed his now in better shape than ever.
The 31-year-old Martinez turned a drained Ancajas to a virtual punching bag during their first fight.
“I was not in as good of shape in our last fight. I fought toe-to-toe because my legs were cramping,” Ancajas said. “Now I am fully prepared and we’ll be ready to get our belt back.”
International matchmaker Sean Gibbons monitored Ancajas’s present weight at 114.6 pounds, an indication that he didn’t struggled to make the grade.
“It will be the best version of Jerwin [Ancajas] that we’re going to see,” Gibbons told BusinessMirror, noting he’s expecting Ancajas to score a stoppage in the later rounds.
Ancajas has a 33-2-2 win-loss-draw with 22 knockouts while Martinez is undefeated in 14 fights with eight knockouts.
“It’s going to be a hard fight, but being the champion is a responsibility that I take with humility,” Martinez said in the same press conference. “I have to keep my feet on the ground and make the fans in Argentina happy.”
Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Eumir Felix Marcial goes for his third professional victory against American Steve Pichardo in a six-round middleweight fight in the Premier Boxing Champions promotion headlined is by the title fight between American super welterweight Sebastian Fundora and Mexican Carlos Ocampo.
A victory by Ancajas will make him the only legitimate Filipino world champion at this time.
