FRESNO, CA ? Jerwin Ancajas retained his IBF world super flyweight title by outboxing mandatory challenger Jonas Sultan in the first all-Filipino world title fight in 93 years at the Save Mart Center here Saturday night (Sunday morning in Manila). Ancajas got the nod of judges Wayne Hedgepeth, Jonathan Davis and Daniel Sandoval with scores of 119-109, 119-109 and 117-111.
Sultan has been exposed for his lack of skill while Ancajas was content in sniping and controlling the fight most of the night. Ancajas's tactical approach to the fight made the skirmish dull and the mostly Mexican crowd of about 8,000 became listless and booed both fighters in many rounds and many of the fans head to the exit early.
Sultan, tried as he might, could find way to penetrate Ancajas's solid stance. Here and there, Sultan lands a looping left but Ancajas took them well.
The action heated up in the last four rounds as Sultan tried to force the issue and to make the fight into a street fight but Ancajas, with his highly superior skill, caught Sultan many times coming in. In the last round, Sultan gave his all but got a lump in his forehead in return courtesy of Ancajas's head and body combinations.
Sultan may have failed his chance of a lifetime as his skill level was not up to it while Ancajas will continue his journey to probably become the Philippines' new face of boxing.
If anything, Sultan showed his toughness as he broke Ancajas's knockout streak to four.
Ancajas improves his record to 30 wins, 1 loss and 1 draw with 20 knockouts while Sultan dropped to 14-4-3, 9 KOs.
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