Ancajas fails in world title bid, knocked out by Inoue in nine

CEBU, Philippines — For now, the Philippines remains without a world boxing champion,

Jerwin Ancajas attempted to bring such honor for his fellow countrymen but failed after being knocked out in the ninth round by Japan’s Takuma Inoue on Saturday night at the Kokugikan Arena in Tokyo.

Inoue thus stayed in his throne as WBA bantamweight king with an improved 19-4 record now spiked with 5KOs.

“Until today I didn’t know what to expect. But I’m grateful we got this result,” said Inoue in a report by Abac Cordero to The Philippine Star.

He was joined in the celebration on top of the ring by his elder brother Naoya Inoue, the vaunted Japanese ‘Moster’ who is the reigning undisputed super bantamweight champion and widely considered as the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter today,

Drawing extra strength from his home fans, Inoue was dominant right from the opening bell throwing punches at will.

In stark contrast, Ancajas did not live up to expectations as a challenger, not giving the Japanese champ any trouble at all with his limited punches.

The abrupt end of the former IBF super flyweight titlist came in round nine when he was punished by Inoue with a string of energy-sapping body shots.

Ancajas went down at the seat of his pants and right there and then decided to throw in the towel at the 44-second mark.

“Ngayon lang ako tinamaan ng ganung body shot. Nag break down talaga yung katawan ko. Parang pinutol yung hininga ko,” said Ancajas, who dropped to 34-4-2 with 23KOs.

“Tingnan natin kung makabawi pero nakakawala ng kumpiyansa. Siguro ganito talaga ang boxing,” added the 32-year-old boxer from Panabo, Davao del Norte.