Ancajas ready for fireworks

STOCKTON – IBF superflyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas said he’s ready to engage Ryuichi Funai and destroy whatever style the Japanese challenger will employ in the ring when they square off in a scheduled 12-round bout at the 12,000-seat arena in this California port city here tonight (tomorrow morning, Manila time).

Both fighters stood face-to-face on stage during a press conference the other day and Funai looked at least two inches taller. But Ancajas shrugged off the disparity, declaring it’s easier to topple a taller opponent.

Ancajas said he has studied Funai’s style in several fights on film and is prepared to win, no matter what the Japanese unravels. He admitted making the mistake of preparing a plan against Mexico’s Alejandro Santiago in his last defense only from what was shown on video. So when Santiago adjusted to something different, it took a while for Ancajas to figure him out. The fight ended in a split draw in Oakland last September.

Ancajas’ trainer Joven Jimenez considered every eventuality in recruiting a platoon of eight sparmates to fight different styles. Two of the sparmates were 5-8 fighters like Funai – Angelo Beltran and Marvin Esquierdo. Ancajas had no difficulty dismantling his sparmates regardless of their style. “Hindi kami nag-tiwala lang sa video,” said Jimenez. “Nasanay si Jerwin ng lumaban iba’t-ibang style so handang handa na siya. Kung ano man style ang ipakita ni Funai, walang problema. Ready na si Jerwin.”

Ancajas said he expects a tough encounter and isn’t taking Funai lightly. It’s his seventh title defense and while he didn’t concede that the pressure of retaining the throne is mounting, Ancajas mentioned the longer the reign, the harder to stay on top. 

Over 10,000 fans are expected to jam the arena and organizers said 400 more $650 VIP tickets were brought out because of high demand. The Filipino community is coming out in full force to support Ancajas as the local fans are making it a sellout to welcome hometowner Gabe Flores Jr., an undefeated lightweight. Flores, 19, has a 12-0 record, with 5 KOs, and will celebrate his Stockton debut. He was 16 when Top Rank signed him to a contract and had to fight outside of California which doesn’t license pro boxers until they’re 18. Flores was recently given the key to the city by Mayor Michael Tubbs, at 28 the youngest mayor in a US city with a population of at least 100,000 and a former President Obama intern.

Aside from the Ancajas-Funai fight, the Top Rank card will feature another world title bout with IBF lightheavyweight champion Artur Beterviev of Russia staking his crown for the second time against Radivoje Kalajdzic of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Beterviev, 34, has a record of 13-0, with 13 KOs while Kalajdzic, 27, totes a slate of 24-1, with 17 KOs, his only loss was by split decision to Marcus Browne in 2016.

Ancajas, 27, wasn’t impressive in his last two defenses, outpointing countryman Jonas Sultan and drawing with Santiago. But he promised to bring back the fire that turned his first four challengers into toast. Jimenez said Ancajas is leaving nothing to chance in delivering a convincing, if not spectacular, performance to make up for the showing against Sultan and Santiago. Funai, 33, is no patsy and will push Ancajas to the limit. The Japanese has won his last seven outings, six by KO including an eighth-round demolition of Filipino Warlito Parrenas in Tokyo last year.

Jimenez said he contacted Parrenas to learn from his experience with Funai. “Parrenas warned us about Funai’s right straight which is his power punch,” he said in Pilipino. “Jerwin’s a lot more active and aggressive. This is a must-win fight for Jerwin.”