Jerwin vows to regain title

LOS ANGELES –  It won’t be easy dethroning the Argentine tough guy who took his IBF superflyweight title away in convincing fashion in Las Vegas last February but Jerwin “Pretty Boy” Ancajas expects to regain the belt when he faces Fernando “Pumita” Martinez in a rematch at the Dignity Health Sports Park here this morning (Manila time).

Ancajas, 30, vowed to unleash the form that led to beating Puerto Rico’s McJoe Arroyo for the IBF crown in 2016 and compiling nine successful defenses until Martinez broke the streak. “Ibabalik ko ang dating Jerwin,” he said. “Sa unang laban, nahirapan akong kunin ang timbang. Magmula ng second round, nagka-kramps ako. ‘Di ako makagalaw. Ngayon, maganda ang kondisyon ko. Handa akong lumaban hanggang 12 rounds. Kung may knockout, blessing na ‘yun.”

Martinez, 31, said he’s determined to stay on the throne and promised fireworks in an all-out war. He dyed his hair blue to honor his country’s national color. The third of 12 brothers, Martinez learned how to box at six from his father Abel who died just before he represented Argentina at the 2016 Olympics. Martinez said he dedicated his win over Ancajas to his father.

Both fighters had no difficulty making the 115-pound limit as Martinez tipped in at 114.8 and Ancajas, 114.6 at Friday’s weigh-in. Ancajas followed a nutrition regimen prepared by the Philippine Sports Commission’s Bianca Estrella who prescribed organic food, fish, skinless chicken, pasta, vegetable salad and five gummy bears a meal while leaving out coffee, protein bars and milk. After the weigh-in, Ancajas had spaghetti with meat sauce prepared by Eumir Marcial’s wife Princess and for dinner, grilled chicken and fish.

Ancajas’ coach/manager Joven Jimenez said the hard work and discipline in over three months of training will pay off. “Determinado si Martinez at mataas ang respeto namin sa kaniya pero makikita natin ang dating galaw ni Jerwin,” he said. “Magugulat si Martinez kasi yung Jerwin na tinalo niya dati, ‘di yung Jerwin na tatalo sa kaniya ngayon.” Eddie Hernandez Sr. will be the referee with Zachary Young, Tiffany Clinton and Ellis Johnson the judges.