Philippines, 03 Oct 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Heeding to Nature or Relying on the Magic of Modern Science in Boxing - Part 1


PhilBoxing.com



Martinez (L) batters Ancajas.

The popular saying in boxing or sports in general for that matter is that one cannot struggle for long against Father Time.

There is a long list of boxers or athletes who faced inglorious or ignominious end to their otherwise highly distinguished careers because they can no longer defy old or well advanced age.

There's Sugar Ray Robinson, Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan, Roy Jones, Jr and our own Flash Elorde and Manny Pacquiao to remind us, "We cannot beat Father Time."

But there's an even more telling and encompassing old Chinese saying that also applies to sports, boxing in particular: "Man cannot fight nature."

We are not certain yet why Jerwin Ancajas lost last weekend in what is supposed to be his grand championship headline fight debut in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, the still acknowledged boxing and gambling capital of the world thereby dropping his six-year hold of the IBF super flyweight crown.

Was it a matter of cold feet? Far out, as Jerwin is a veteran of nine previous world title bouts, all held mostly in the US, a few in Mexico and one in the UK which except for a draw saw the hands of Ancajas raised in victory.

If anything, it was his opponent, Fernando Martinez who would have been predisposed to some nerves as the Argentine former 2016 Rio Olympian was young and had only less than ten pro fights. But Martinez showed not only nerve of steel but deadly determination to pull off a convincing 12 round unanimous decision victory which is regarded as a huge upset.

Did Jerwin suddenly grow old? Well that's a distinct possibility. Jerwin is already 30 years old and had been world champion since late 2015. Like or not, his age showed in this performance where he was both outsped and outworked by Martinez.

Flash Elorde was on his seventh year as world junior lightweight champion and fighting for nearly two decades when he lost his title to a younger Yoshiaki Numata, a fighter he would have easily bowled over five years earlier.

That could have also been the case with Ancajas against Martinez who showed nothing special than his advantages in youth and speed despite being a product of the Argentine school of boxing that places premium on brute strength as exemplified by his own mentor, Marcos Rene Maidana.

For all his merits as a boxer/fighter, Ancajas had been noted by some foreign commentators and observers for his seeming aversion to close quarters sustained fighting, the main reason he prevailed in bouts where he had to commit to such was his more superior skills and that his opponents had sustained the bigger damages that the fight had to be stopped though they may still be in condition to continue.

Meaning to say, Jerwin had not been previously pushed to the limits, except by nail tough Santiago Barrios who he was fortunate to hold to a draw in a fight some thought he lost. The camp of Martinez conceivably studied the tape of that fight and perhaps concluded that a more sustained pressure would crack the Pinoy champion. As per result, that did the trick.

Was he overstrained or undertrained? Not a chance as he has had a well managed training camp despite the fact his supposed unification bout last December versus WBO titlist Kazuto Ioka had to be shelved due to renewed pandemic restrictions in Japan. Fact was he had been with other Filipino fighters training in the US and under expert coaches and trainers, such possibility was highly remote or unlikely.

Did Jerwin overgrow his current division? His manager Sean Gibbons gave a tacit positive response to this as he revealed that Jerwin was still two pounds over the 115 lbs limit heading to the official weighin and was so drained in the effort to successfully make the weight. Jerwin tipped the scale just below the limit.

The rigors of meeting the weight were very evident in Jerwin's showing as he did not have the reflexes, the stamina and power he usually demonstrated in his previous winning contests, the last held almost ten months ago against tough Mexican mandatory challenger Jonathan Javier Rodriguez whom he beat on points, among the few who heard the final bell.

But how could his experienced camp have overlooked this? Surely they have physical conditioning coach on board supported by nutritionist and dietitian who through the so called magic of modern sports science and medicine could have precluded such.

This brings me to the subject of nature and science in sports, particularly boxing which for years have brought contrasting results particularly to Filipino boxers.

You see, through the past more than 50 years of my following boxing, I have known Filipino world boxing champions losing their fights and titles right at the weight scale.

I believe we have to look closely on the roles of nature and science on this no longer new phenomenon.

To be continued

The author Teodoro Medina Reynoso is a veteran boxing radio talk show host living in the Philippines. He can be reached at teddyreynoso@yahoo.com and by phone 09215309477.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Teodoro Medina Reynoso.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Lorenzo Parra Vs Elijah Pierce and Jimuel Pacquiao Pro Debut Featured in Manny Pacquiao Promotions Nov. 29 Inaugural Event at Pechanga Resort Casino
    , Fri, 03 Oct 2025
  • Villar and Astuvilca Make Weight for Title Rematch at All Star Boxing: Seneca Fight Night
    , Fri, 03 Oct 2025
  • Allan Villanueva vs. Jyl Wright Headlines Peter Maniatis Event in Melbourne Oct. 3
    , Thu, 02 Oct 2025
  • BUSTAMANTE AND JONES NAMED CAPTAINS FOR REYES CUP 2025
    , Thu, 02 Oct 2025
  • Mike Tyson Joins BoltBetz as Strategic Investor and Promotional Partner to Usher in a New Era of Cashless Gaming
    , Thu, 02 Oct 2025
  • BOXING LEGEND MANNY PACQUIAO LAUNCHES “MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS” IN THE UNITED STATES
    , Thu, 02 Oct 2025
  • BOOTS HUNTING THE BIG FISH AT 154LBS
    , Thu, 02 Oct 2025
  • IBA Unveils Historic 2025 IBA Men’s Elite World Championships as Part of a Spectacular Two-Week ‘Festival of Boxing’ in Dubai with Unprecedented $8 Million Prize Pool
    , Thu, 02 Oct 2025
  • Final Bell for 2025 USA Boxing National Open Event National Open Event Concludes with 1,870 Registered Participants in Tulsa, Oklahoma
    , Thu, 02 Oct 2025
  • THRILLA IN MANILA GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY 15: JOE FRAZIER’S PROFESSIONAL CAREER
    By Maloney L. Samaco, , Thu, 02 Oct 2025
  • World Boxing relocates Congress 2025 to Rome
    , Thu, 02 Oct 2025
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaiman: Behind the WBC Boxing Grand Prix
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Wed, 01 Oct 2025
  • JOHANN CHUA BEGINS TITLE DEFENCE AGAINST IVICA PUTNIK AS DRAW CONFIRMED FOR 2025 HANOI OPEN POOL CHAMPIONSHIP
    , Wed, 01 Oct 2025
  • CUBAN FUTURE CHAMPIONS YOENLI HERNANDEZ, ARMANDO MARTINEZ RABI & GUSTAVO TRUJILLO HEADLINE ‘FISTS OF FURY 8’
    , Wed, 01 Oct 2025
  • USA Boxing Finishes Canada Duel Undefeated
    , Wed, 01 Oct 2025
  • Dana White Seeks to Make Significant Changes in the World Boxing
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 01 Oct 2025
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 29 September 2025: Ferreira Retains IBF 135 Belt by Outpointing Moneo; Clavel Dethrones IBF 105 Champ Cudos
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 30 Sep 2025
  • Canelo Alvarez Facing Extended Layoff After Crawford Loss; Surgery Confirms Injury Rumors
    By Dong Secuya, , Tue, 30 Sep 2025
  • Dante Stone is last American standing in Inaugural WBC Grand Prix
    , Tue, 30 Sep 2025
  • Age Defying Triumph: At Age 50 Toshihiko Era Wins World Title
    By Carlos Costa, , Tue, 30 Sep 2025
  • TKO and Zuffa Boxing sign streaming agreement with Paramount
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 30 Sep 2025
  • Boxing Ephemera, Pacquiao’s Mouthguard, and the Meaning of It All
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Tue, 30 Sep 2025
  • A turning point for global sport: IBA President Umar Kremlev and Donald Trump Jr join forces
    , Mon, 29 Sep 2025
  • Rosia captures PBF super fly title
    , Mon, 29 Sep 2025
  • Tancontians starred 2025 Sports Heroes Night
    , Mon, 29 Sep 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.