Philippines, 21 May 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Respect is Ancajas' motivation


PhilBoxing.com



Jerwin Ancajas at Friday's weighin in Uncasville, CT.

IBF superflyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas is determined to deliver a strong message that he can’t be ignored in lining up the world’s top 115-pound fighters and standing in the way of earning the respect he deserves is Mexican challenger Jonathan Javier Rodriguez who will test his mettle in a scheduled 12-round title bout at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, Saturday ight (tomorrow morning, Manila time).

“Jerwin wants respect,” said MP Promotions president Sean Gibbons yesterday from Connecticut. “For some reason, he’s never in the equation when talking about the best superflyweights. It’s always (Juan Francisco) Estrada or Chocolatito (Gonzalez) or (Carlos) Cuadras or (Srisaket Sor) Rungvisai. Jerwin’s made eight successful defenses and he still can’t get respect. But this fight will be his statement that watch out, Jerwin means business. This is going to be a war.” Supervising the title fight is Melvina Lathan. David Fields of New Jersey will be the referee and Tony Paolillo of New York, Tom Schreck of New York and Don Trella of Suffield, Connecticut the judges.

Ancajas, 29, hasn’t fought in over a year and the encounter with Rodriguez was postponed twice but now that it’s finally set, he can’t wait to rumble. “Sabi ni Rodriguez, simula first round, banat kaagad,” he said. “Handa akong makipagsabayan. Noong bago ako sa pro, ganoon ang style ko, bahala na, suntok ng suntok parang si Sir Manny (Pacquiao) sa unang panahon niya. Paglipat ko kay coach Joven (Jimenez), nag-improve yung technique ko, depensa, counter, footwork, kumbinasyon, jab. Itong laban ang susi para makilala ako bilang isa sa mga tanyag na superflyweight sa mundo.”

Rodriguez, 25, is a typical Mexican come-forward warrior who’s the highest-ranked contender in the IBF with the No. 1 and No. 2 slots vacant. To prepare for Ancajas, Rodriguez disposed of Julian Yedras in a single round in Monterrey last December and in his previous fight, the brawler nicknamed “Titan” sent two-time world title challenger Felipe Orocuta to a seven-week stay in the hospital. Ancajas, a southpaw, hasn’t lost in his last 20 outings or since dropping a majority decision to countryman Mark Anthony Geraldo in Lapu Lapu City in 2012. His record is 32-1-2, with 22 KOs. Rodriguez has won six in a row since bowing to Jose Martin Estrada Garcia on a split decision in 2018 and totes a record of 22-1, with 16 KOs. It will be Ancajas’ fifth fight in the US while Rodriguez is making his debut outside of Mexico. In yesterday's weigh-in, Ancajas tipped the scales at 114 3/4 pounds and Rodriguez checked in at 115.
Ancajas has called out the division’s big names for a showdown but Estrada, Gonzalez, Cuadras and Rungvisai are looking elsewhere. The WBC recently announced that Estrada, now the WBC superflyweight “franchise” champion, and Gonzalez will face off in a rubber match with the winner to take on the survivor of a duel between Srisaket and Cuadras for the WBC crown.

Ancajas, Jimenez and sparmate Jonas Sultan landed in Los Angeles from Manila last October. It took nearly six months to confirm his ninth title defense with Premier Boxing Champions taking over from Top Rank and now managing his affairs. The team left Los Angeles for Connecticut last Tuesday with Gibbons and his son Brendan. Featherweight Mark Magsayo and his wife Frances flew in from L. A. the next day. Magsayo, 25, takes on Houston’s Pablo Cruz, 34, in the undercard. Cruz has won seven of his last eight to raise his record to 21-3, with 6 KOs compared to Magsayo’s 21-0, with 14 KOs. Both fights will be shown on the One Sports Plus channel via Cignal TV, sponsored by Big Boss Cement, tomorrow morning.


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


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Jenn Perella shines, Bobby Laing stops Russ Kimber in 1st round
    , Thu, 21 May 2026
  • TRAINING CAMP NOTES: Gustavo Trujillo Looks to Continue his Rise in the Heavyweight Division
    , Thu, 21 May 2026
  • Filipino Francisco "Django" Bustamante rules 2026 Buffalo’s Pro Classic 1 Ball One Pocket Division
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 21 May 2026
  • USA Boxing Elite High Performance Squad Secures Eight More Victories on Day Three of 2026 Copa America
    , Thu, 21 May 2026
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 19 MAY 2026: Davis Outpoints Albright; Kuse Dethrones Jerusalem; Donovan Defeats Chukhadzhian; Hrgovic Stops Allen
    By Eric Armit, , Wed, 20 May 2026
  • 2026 NBA Playoffs: Knicks Rally from 22 Points Down to Beat Cavs 115-104 in OT
    By Reylan Loberternos, , Wed, 20 May 2026
  • Filipino grabs second place in the National Canada Chess Challenge 2026
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 20 May 2026
  • Spotlight on Mexico City: boxers speak ahead of IBA Pro 18
    , Wed, 20 May 2026
  • 2026 NBA Playoffs: Wembanyama Outshines MVP Gilgeous-Alexander as Spurs Beat Thunder 122-115 in Double Overtime Thriller
    By Reylan Loberternos, , Wed, 20 May 2026
  • 0 MUST GO: SELDON JR. vs. POPPER — JUNE 13 AT THE TROP
    , Wed, 20 May 2026
  • CARL “THE COBRA” FROCH REUNITES WITH ANDRE WARD ON ART OF WARD FOR FIRST IN-DEPTH SIT-DOWN SINCE THEIR LEGENDARY SUPER SIX FINAL
    , Wed, 20 May 2026
  • BOXING LEGEND DARREN BARKER ANNOUNCES 'THE LONGEST ROUND' – A WORLD-FIRST ENDURANCE CHALLENGE FOR MEN'S MENTAL HEALTH
    , Wed, 20 May 2026
  • IBA stands ready to organise Jon Jones professional boxing fight in Russia
    , Wed, 20 May 2026
  • USA Boxing Elite High Performance Squad Earns Eight More Wins on Day Two at 2026 Copa America
    , Wed, 20 May 2026
  • QC ends PCAP Season 6 All-Filipino conference campaign
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 20 May 2026
  • It’s in the blood
    By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 19 May 2026
  • “The fans will be the true winners” – Angel Ayala ready for IBA PRO 18 in Mexico City
    , Tue, 19 May 2026
  • Rematch option for Melvin
    By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 19 May 2026
  • World-class stablemates John ‘Scrappy’ Ramirez & Darius ‘DFG’ Fulghum fighting on same card Friday night in San Jose
    , Tue, 19 May 2026
  • Ignacio Defeats Malayan to Claim Title and USD 10,000 Prize
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 19 May 2026
  • USA Boxing Elite High Performance Squad Dominates Day One of 2026 Copa America with 11-0 Record
    , Tue, 19 May 2026
  • Reina Tellez Returns to the Ring Following World Title Challenge Against Amanda Serrano
    , Mon, 18 May 2026
  • Mombay, Garras top Helubong 50km Uphill Ultra Challenge
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 18 May 2026
  • Arijan Goricki Knocks Out Hassan Ndonga in Nairobi
    , Mon, 18 May 2026
  • USA Boxing's High Performance Squad Sets Sights on Gold at 2026 Copa America
    , Mon, 18 May 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.