Staying behind while his opponent is already training in the US doesn?t worry Jerwin Ancajas a bit.
Unlike Jonas Sultan, who arrived in Los Angeles two weeks back, Ancajas believes that 10 days there will be enough for him to acclimatize and be ready for their International Boxing Federation super flyweight title duel on May 26 in Fresno, Calif.
?It?s the same time frame we used when I fought in Ireland and Texas,? said Ancajas, during the sendoff party tended in Mandaluyong on Saturday. ?And we found out that my condition was OK on fight night.?
Ancajas knocked out challengers Jamie Conlan (sixth round) in Belfast and Israel Gonzalez (10th round) in Corpus Christi, Texas, respectively, for his third and fourth defenses of the 115-pound title.
Already in the final phase of his training under the guidance of Joven Jimenez, Ancajas said he would do four more rounds of sparring on Monday before taking the evening flight out of Manila on Tuesday.
Ancajas will be accompanied by Jimenez, 2012 London Olympian Mark Anthony Barriga and matchmaker Sean Gibbons. They will do light training in Los Angeles before proceeding to Fresno on May 21.
With weight hardly a concern being just seven pounds off the115-pound limit, Ancajas is concentrating on the fight plans they have charted for the first all-Filipino world title duel in 93 years.
The 26-year-old Ancajas added that he has studied tapes of Sultan?s last few fights, particularly when his fellow Negrense beat former world champion Johnriel Casimero in an eliminator for the right to challenge him.
Ancajas observed that Sultan has power and the uncanny ability to change his styles inside the ring, making him a dangerous opponent.
That?s why Ancajas, despite being tagged as a huge favorite by betting sites, remains cautious in his approach.
?I need to be careful with his counterpunches,? said Ancajas, who?s a happy man these days as he eats well in training, feeling energetic without gaining weight after a nutritionist joined the Survival Camp staff in Magallanes, Cavite.
For another, Ancajas? wife, Ruth, is 5 months pregnant with their third child.
