Filipino champion Jerwin Ancajas makes the first defense of the International Boxing Federation (IBF) super-flyweight crown tonight against Jose Alfredo Rodriguez of Mexico in Macau.
Ancajas tipped the scales at 114 lb during the official weigh-in held yesterday in the former Portuguese colony. Rodriguez came in at 114.5 lb.
The Filipino southpaw is favored to repulse the challenge of Rodriguez, a 27-year-old native of Sinaloa, who has a 32-4 win-loss-draw record with 17 KOs.
The 25-year-old Ancajas spent the last three weeks of training in a farm in Lipa City, Batangas, after setting up camp in Tanay and Cavite.
One of just three reigning Filipino world champions, Ancajas had won the IBF 115-lb title by outpointing McJoe Arroyo of Puerto Rico last year in Taguig.
A prot?g? of fast-rising trainer Joven Jimenez, Ancajas is being groomed by his promotional team to showcase his wares in the US this year.
For defending the IBF title for the first time, Ancajas will receive $40,000.
Despite his lofty billing against Rodriguez, Ancajas insists that he is not looking past the challenger.
?Beterano sya (Rodriguez) kaya?t hindi pwedeng balewalain,? said Ancajas.
