MANILA ? With his talent and ring smarts, world junior bantamweight champion Jerwin Ancajas should have no problem defending his crown against Mexico?s Jose Alfredo Rodriguez this weekend, fight analyst Ed Tolentino said.
Tolentino believes Ancajas will outclass Rodriguez at Studio City casino resort in Macau, China on Sunday.
?I think Ancajas is one of the most talented champions we have right now. I saw his fight against McJoe Arroyo for the IBF super flyweight title last September and Ancajas dismantled Arroyo,? Tolentino told ABS-CBN News.
?Brick-by-brick Ancajas is a tactician, a southpaw who owns a bag of tricks which he displayed in outfinessing Arroyo.?
Ancajas, the first Manny Pacquiao-promoted boxer to win a world title, outboxed and outslugged the previously unbeaten Puerto Rican, stinging Arroyo with his consistent right jab before decking the Puerto Rican in the 8th round. His dominance was more than enough to merit him a unanimous decision.
Rodriguez is a former interim junior flyweight champion. He won three fights in a row since dropping four of five bouts between 2012 and 2014.
Tolentino believes Rodriguez looks tailor-fit for Ancajas.
?Style wise, Rodriguez just stands in front of his foe and looks to counter. He owns a good double left hook but is not fast on his hands and a bit slow to react on defense,? he said.
?Rodriguez actually fought here at the Araneta Coliseum in 2013 and was handily beaten by Milan Melindo . . . He was inactive in 2015 and his last 2 fights were just 8-rounders.?
?Ancajas should win handily.?
Although Tolentino thinks Ancajas won?t rush into going for a knockout, he thinks the fight won’t last more than 10 rounds.
?Ancajas can win within 10 rounds. Rodriguez has been stopped only once while Ancajas is not really cut in a slugger’s mode. He will work the rounds and if the knockout comes later on, that will be a bonus,? said Tolentino.
