Philippines, 03 Apr 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Ancajas invincible in Belfast


PhilBoxing.com




IBF superflyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas brushed off a bad cold and clobbered previously unbeaten Irish challenger Jamie (The Mexican) Conlan until New Jersey referee Steve Gray stopped the carnage at 0:52 of the sixth round before a hushed crowd at the SSE Arena in Belfast yesterday morning (Manila time).

It was no contest from the start as Ancajas, making the third defense of his crown, brought Conlan down to a knee with a body shot in the first round. An accidental clash of heads opened a cut above Conlan?s left eye in the second then Ancajas dropped the Irish hometown hero with more body blows in the third and fourth. Another punch to the body floored Conlan in the fifth but Gray ruled it low and docked a point from the Filipino. In the sixth, Ancajas went for the kill and unleashed a vicious right cross to the head that sent a badly battered Conlan down once more. Conlan got up but Gray waved it off to spare him from further punishment.

Filipino judge Silvestre Abainza said if Gray hadn?t stepped in, Conlan would?ve landed in the hospital. At the time of the stoppage, Abainza had Ancajas ahead, 49-42. The other judge Dave Paris of Leeds, UK, also saw it 49-42 while New Jersey judge John Stewart, a late replacement for Julie Lederman, had it 49-41. A boxrec website report made a mistake in naming Zoltan Enyedi of Hungary and Ingo Barrabas of Germany as the judges along with Abainza.

Ancajas? trainer Joven Jimenez said he was worried before the fight because the cold weather left the champion with a nasty cough and running nose. ?Medyo kabado ako dahil sa kanila yung lugar at sobrang lamig, nagkaroon pa ng ubo at sipon si Jerwin,? said Jimenez. ?Hindi namin alam ang kondisyon ni Jerwin bago ang laban. Nagpapasalamat si Jerwin na bagama?t may ubo siya, maganda pa rin ang pinakita niya.?


Referee Steve Gray motions Jerwin Ancajas to go to a neutral corner after Ancajas sends his Irish challenger Jamie Conlan to the canvas during their IBF world title fight in Belfast last Saturday. Photo by Sumio Yamada.


IBF president Darryl Peoples (R) and matchmaker Sean Gibbons pose with Ancajas after Ancajas successfully defended his IBF title Saturday in Belfast.

Conlan, 31, lived up to his reputation as a warrior. He never backed down and fought courageously. Conlan could?ve run, boxed from a distance and fought cautiously. But he promised the hometown fans a brave stand and paid the price. Conlan was tailor-fit for Ancajas who had no difficulty finding his target. Ancajas, 25, raked Conlan with jab-straights in the middle of the ring then blasted the body when he pushed the challenger to the ropes or corners. There was no let-up in Ancajas? assault.

Abainza was isolated by organizers from Ancajas and stayed at the Park Inn Hotel, about a 15-minute walk from where the champion and his traveling party were billeted at the Radisson Blu Hotel. IBF president Daryl Peoples acted as fight supervisor.

Abainza said from his viewpoint, the low blow that Gray called to deduct a point from Ancajas was legal. ?Sa tingin ko, legal blow yun, tumama sa bodega,? he said.

?Nakapagpahinga pa si Conlan but wala rin nangyari. Tinanong ako ng supervisor anong tingin ko. Sabi ko, legal blow kasi tinamaan sa tiyan. Talagang gulpi si Conlan at kawawa kay Ancajas. Walang nakuhang round si Conlan sa akin. First round pa lang bagsak na si Conlan. Kung hindi tinigil ng referee, baka na-hospital siya.?

Conlan, known as ?The Mexican? because of his bell-to-bell style, was clearly not in Ancajas' class. In three previous bouts, Conlan survived trips to the canvas to win but this time, the Filipino never gave him a chance to recover. Ancajas raised his record to 28-1-1, with 19 KOs while Conlan?s mark dipped to 19-1, with 11 KOs. Ancajas, Abainza and Jimenez will arrive in Manila on board an Etihad flight this afternoon.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • PLANET ICE FIGHT NIGHT: WEIGH-IN RESULTS AS BROWN AND DUCAR FACE-OFF FOR FINAL TIME
    , Fri, 03 Apr 2026
  • Battle of the Trades Returns for Its 3rd Year April 25 at Torrey Pines Community Resource Center in Las Vegas
    , Fri, 03 Apr 2026
  • Bobby Laing vs. Russ Kimber in intriguing Intra-state match-up between Massachusetts Light Heavyweights on ‘Rumble at the Rink II’
    , Fri, 03 Apr 2026
  • PH chess wizard Jacobb Seda ties for 1st, settles for silver on tiebreaks in Thailand meet
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 03 Apr 2026
  • Rene “Chulo” Santiago, Masataka Taniguchi Officially Make Weight for Friday’s Unified World Title Clash in Tokyo
    , Thu, 02 Apr 2026
  • Marlon Tapales and Yukinori Oguni Make Weight in Clash of Former World Champions
    , Thu, 02 Apr 2026
  • Taduran in high spirits ahead of title defense in California
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 02 Apr 2026
  • Waiting to beat Floyd
    By Joaquin Henson, , Thu, 02 Apr 2026
  • 20th Philippine Xiangqi Open tournament on May 1
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 02 Apr 2026
  • Can Tapales Overpower Oguni to Increase his Chances of Another World Title Fight?
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 02 Apr 2026
  • BROWN-DUCAR PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES IN FULL: EVERYTHING THAT WAS SAID AHEAD OF FRIDAY'S ALTRINCHAM FIGHT NIGHT
    , Thu, 02 Apr 2026
  • Wise Owl Boxing Makes Headlines Again with Signing of Former World Champion  Julio Cesar “El Rey” Martinez
    , Thu, 02 Apr 2026
  • Santiago-Taniguchi Final Presser
    , Wed, 01 Apr 2026
  • Jimuel in Action on Friday!
    By Carlos Costa, , Wed, 01 Apr 2026
  • “Rumble in the Une” Makes History in Union City with Star-Studded Fight Card Headlined by Jacob Macalolooy
    , Wed, 01 Apr 2026
  • Is Floyd chickening out?
    By Joaquin Henson, , Wed, 01 Apr 2026
  • Bacaro to challenge Toyoshima on April 4
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 01 Apr 2026
  • IBA steps forward as potential organiser for Bivol vs Beterbiev trilogy bout
    , Wed, 01 Apr 2026
  • PBF president Almario dies
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 01 Apr 2026
  • Portland Trail Blazers have new owner after $4.25 billion sale
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 01 Apr 2026
  • PH chess wizard seven-year old Noah Lucas Palcis finishes second in Bangkok chess
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 01 Apr 2026
  • 2 Time World Champion Marcos Maidana Confirmed for Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Cinco De Mayo Weekend, Saturday May 2, in Las Vegas
    , Wed, 01 Apr 2026
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 30 MARCH 2026: Itauma Destroys Franklin in 5; Fundora Dismantles Thurman in 6
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 31 Mar 2026
  • Panamanian WBC Judge Jesus Aleman murdered in Panama
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 31 Mar 2026
  • ‘I won’t be holding anything back! – Big Bad Bazley challenges The Pilgrim Ryan Williams for Heavyweight title May 29 in Perth – Thunderdome 54
    , Tue, 31 Mar 2026




  •  



     
    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
    © 2026 philboxing.com.