JERWIN Ancajas vowed to come up with a better showing the next time he climbs the ring after failing to impress in his last title defense against countryman Jonas Sultan.
While the world super-flyweight champion got a passing mark from trainer Joven Jimenez, Ancajas still got an earful from the former Philippine Navy member.
Jimenez was vocal about Ancajas being ‘slow and lacking snap in his punches’ during the 12-round fight against Sultan held at the Save Mart Center in Fresno, California.
“Aminado naman siya sir,” said Jimenez when asked about the reaction of Ancajas to the trainer's assessment of his overall performance during the fifth defense of his International Boxing Federation (IBF) title belt.
“Mas paghahandaan daw niya po yung susunod na laban niya.”
Ancajas gave himself a seven when asked to rate his performance on a scale of 1 to 10, but Jimenez was more vocal and said Ancajas deserves a six based on the same scale.
Despite coming short of expectations, Ancajas still emerged the dominant fighter in a rather lackluster bout – the first between two Filipino fighters in a world championship match in 93 years – and won by scores of 119-109, 119-109, 117-111.
“Actually andun yung stamina niya. Mabagal lang talaga tsaka walang diin at follow-up yung mga suntok niya,” said Jimenez, a former member of the men’s national team.
But the style of the two actually didn’t mesh, which contributed to an action-less showdown between the two Filipino fighters.
“Next time we’re going to pick from the style,” said international matchmaker Sean Gibbons, stressing the Ancajas camp had no choice but to face Sultan since the 26-year-old boxer from ALA Promotions was a mandatory challenger for the IBF belt.
After failing to get their Italian visas in time for the IBF convention where Ancajas was supposed to be presented with his championship ring, the champion and his eight-team crew proceeded to return to the Philippines, arriving in the country early Tuesday night via Philippine Airlines flight PR 113.
After a quick dinner, Ancajas went straight home to Magallanes, Cavite to be reunited with pregnant wife Ruth and sons Kyrie and Kyle.
