Ancajas won’t let Pacquiao down

MANILA, Philippines -  IBF superflyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas said yesterday he assured Manny Pacquiao of an impressive performance against challenger Teiru Kinoshita in the second defense of his crown and promised not to let the fighting Senator down in the undercard of the “Battle of Brisbane” at the SunCorp Stadium on July 2.

Ancajas paid a courtesy call on Pacquiao before the WBO welterweight champion left Manila for General Santos City to step up his training for Australian challenger Jeff Horn three weeks back. It’s not the first time Ancajas will see action in a Pacquiao undercard. In 2014, Ancajas halted Tanzania’s Fadhili Majiha in the third round of an appetizer leading to the main event where Pacquiao defeated Chris Algieri in Macau.

“Boss Manny asked me about my training and how much I weigh,” said Ancajas in Pilipino. “I told him no problem with training and weight. This is a big opportunity for me because my fight will be shown live on ESPN in the US. I’m excited to put on a good showing. I promised Boss Manny I’ll do my best. I owe my career to him. I won’t let him down.”

To prepare for Kinoshita who’s a southpaw, Ancajas has sparred over 110 rounds with two left-handed fighters. Ancajas’ sparmates are 5-8, 21-year-old superlightweight Joepher Montano who has a 7-1-2 slate, with 6 KOs and 5-7 undefeated featherweight Jerald Daniega whose record is 11-0, with 8 KOs. Ancajas said he’s walking around at 120 to 121 pounds and making the 115-pound limit shouldn’t be difficult at the weigh-in on the eve of the fight.

Ancajas will leave for Brisbane this Saturday with his team made up of chief handler Joven Jimenez, Drian Francisco, Vergel Jimenez, Rey Dulay and Epi Almeda. They’re taking the PAL flight as arranged by Top Rank and matchmaker Sean Gibbons. Pacquiao’s group will also leave Saturday but on a chartered flight.

Kinoshita, 31, was born Tae Il Park to Korean parents in Osaka. A distance fighter with dazzling footwork, he racked up an amateur record of 65-15 before turning pro in 2008. He was supposed to take on former IBF champion McJoe Arroyo in Puerto Rico last Jan. 28 to decide Ancajas’ mandatory challenger but the bout fell through. Arroyo’s camp failed to comply with the logistical requirements for the fight. Ancajas wrested the IBF crown from Arroyo in Taguig last September. 

Kinoshita’s record is 25-1-1, with 8 KOs. He has won his last six outings but his victims’ combined record was a lowly 10-23 with the last two opponents making their pro debut. Ancajas’ card is 26-1-1, with 17 KOs.

Ancajas, 25, said he’s never fought anyone like Kinoshita before. “He’s left-handed like me, moves a lot and has a strong left straight,” he said. “We’ve watched his fights on YouTube and asked my sparmates to copy his style so I get used to it. I don’t think I’ll have a problem adjusting. In the early rounds, I’ll size him up, test his power. I’ll be careful not to engage right away. Once I’ve figured him out, I’ll go all out.”

Jimenez said Ancajas will be the aggressor in the fight. “Jerwin will lead off with his jab,” said Jimenez in Pilipino. “That’s his style. Everything starts with the jab. Then, he’ll move in. Kinoshita is a runner so Jerwin will have to cut the ring off to limit his space. Once Kinoshita is off-balance, Jerwin will attack with combinations.”