Biggest purse ever for Ancajas

MANILA, Philippines — For IBF superflyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas, the rise to fame and fortune has been slow. But he’s not impatient. Ancajas knows his time will come to earn big bucks and it’s coming. In the fourth defense of his title against Mexico’s Israel Gonzalez at the Bank of America Center in Corpus Christi, Texas, on Feb. 3, Ancajas will bankroll a career-high $95,000 – not exactly a mind-boggling amount by Sen. Manny Pacquiao standards but he’s not complaining.

When Ancajas wrested the IBF crown from previously unbeaten McJoe Arroyo in Taguig in September 2016, he was paid $3,700 and had to cough up $1,000 for his share of the sanction fee. The purse improved to $40,000 for his first defense against Mexico’s Jose Alfredo Rodriguez in Macau in January last year then increased to $60,000 for the second defense against Japan’s Teiru Kinosita in Brisbane last July. Ancajas took home $80,000 for stopping Ireland’s Jamie Conlan in his third defense in Belfast last November.

Ancajas is within reach of breaching six figures and he’ll surely make his breakthrough after disposing of Gonzalez. That’s why losing isn’t an option for Ancajas in facing the Mexican who has lost only once in 22 outings since turning pro in 2014. Gonzalez’ only loss was a unanimous six-round decision to Argi Cortes in Mexico two years ago. He bounced back from the defeat to win eight in a row, raising his record to 21-1, with 8 KOs. 

Ancajas has also lost once in compiling a 28-1-1 record, with 19 KOs. That was a loss to Mark Anthony Geraldo on a majority 10-round decision in Lapu Lapu City in 2012. Ancajas has since been unbeaten in 15 fights.

Ancajas’ manager and trainer Joven Jimenez said the fighter is no spendthrift. “He saves his money for the future of his family,” said Jimenez, a former Philippine Navy fighter and boxing coach, in Pilipino. Ancajas and wife Ruth have two children Kyrie, 5, and Kyle, 2, both named after NBA players. Kyrie Irving and Kyle Korver are Ancajas’ favorite players. Jimenez said Ancajas will use part of his purse for the finishing touches of his house, now 90 percent done, in Magallanes, Cavite. And a portion will go to build a dorm facility near the gym he constructed behind his house.

Ancajas, one of three children, was only three when his parents separated and keeps in close contact with both. He recently bought his father, now debilitated from a spinal injury suffered in a motorcycle accident, a home in Panabo where they’re from. Ancajas plans to buy his mother a home, too. So he also sets aside a sum from his purse for his parents, brother Jesar and sister Jean.

“For the gym and dorm, Jerwin and I split the expenses 50-50,” said Jimenez. “We’re thinking of building a two-storey, 10-bed dorm. We’ve been receiving inquiries from foreign boxers if they could train with us. We want to accommodate them.” Interest has been high from fighters in Australia and China where Ancajas has a fan following. 

Ancajas, Jimenez, stablemate Mark Anthony Barriga, Atty. Epi Almeda and Jimenez’ brother Mark left Manila for Los Angeles last Thursday night. With a recommendation from Sen. Pacquiao, Ancajas was interviewed for a visa at the US Embassy the morning of his departure and issued his travel clearance in the afternoon.