Filipino fight fans rejoiced last week when word came out that dethroned International Boxing Federation (IBF) super-flyweight king Jerwin Ancajas will be working under the tutelage of top conditioning coach Memo Heredia.
After melting away against Fernando Martinez to lose his IBF 115-lb crown in Las Vegas, Ancajas made the announcement that he would be going up in weight.
Heredia, best known for his work with Juan Manuel Marquez and Yordenis Ugas, conquerors of the great Manny Pacquiao, also came out on social media and even told this writer that he has added Ancajas to his ever-growing list of top fighters.
Heredia added that after a much-deserved vacation in the Philippines, Ancajas will head back to America sometime in May to begin camp with him.
“We will get back the (world) title,” vowed Heredia, who had a hand in Marquez’s one-punch kayo of Pacquiao in 2012 and Ugas’ lopsided win over the eight-division champion last August.
Shortly after Memo’s bold declaration went viral, Ancajas’ team, headed by manager cum trainer Joven Jimenez, denied that an agreement had been forged involving Heredia and Team Ancajas.
Jimenez even went on to say that if Heredia is added to the team, they might end up trading punches themselves over issues regarding training.
It would all depend on what they are all going to agree on.
By the looks of it, it doesn’t appear that Jimenez and Heredia are going to share and divide roles.
Jimenez said just a few adjustments will have to be made for Ancajas to return to the starring role.
There were mistakes that were committed but it doesn’t necessarily mean that Ancajas would need Heredia, who plans to lend his expertise on conditioning and nutrition.
Heredia is also the fitness guy assigned to Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Eumir Marcial and rising bantamweight contender Jonas Sultan, who both are training in Las Vegas.
Last Monday night, I ran into Ancajas during the annual Philippine Sportswriters Association Awards Night at the Diamond Hotel.
Ancajas made the confirmation that the Heredia thing is not official.
But the shifty southpaw also said that he is not closing the door on the possibility of hooking up with him.
“It would all depend on what they are all going to agree on,” Ancajas said. “I don’t see anything wrong with it.”
For Heredia to enter the scene, Jimenez and MP Promotions chief Sean Gibbons will have to reach a compromise.
Gibbons is arriving in Manila very soon, his first visit in two years, and he will likely include the Ancajas issue on his agenda.
Knowing Jimenez, Gibbons will need all his convincing powers to soften Jimenez’s stand against Heredia.
