FRESNO, Calif.?When Joven Jimenez saw that Jerwin Ancajas wasn?t in his best form Saturday night, he decided to scrimp on his fighter?s energy.
Jimenez let go of the 10th round, then ordered Ancajas to pour it on in the last 2 of his International Boxing Federation junior-bantamweight world title defense against Jonas Sultan at Save Mart Center here.
Though Ancajas was way ahead by then, Jimenez wanted to put an impressive final touch to his fifth successful title defense.
?He was slow,? said Jimenez at the dugout. ?So I saved on his resources. I don?t want him to give it all and become wild because he might get spent.?
Through his sharp eyes, Jimenez noticed that Ancajas wasn?t moving as fast as he used to and his punches were wanting in power.
?They weren?t sharp, his punches were lacking sting,? Jimenez said. ?Even his speed and shifty moves were gone.?
Fearing Ancajas would lose steam, Jimenez controlled each round before releasing the generated savings in the 11th and 12th.
?I told him to be the aggressor, go after Sultan and unload those combinations,? Jimenez said.
The ploy worked as the judges gave Ancajas a runaway 119-109, twice, and 117-111 victory that raised his record to 30-1-1 with 20 knockouts.
Sultan, who took the third and 10th rounds by Ancajas? assessment, dropped to 14-4 with 9 knockouts.
Asked to explain Ancajas? dip in performance, Jimenez cited the postponement of the fight originally slated April 14, their hectic schedule once back in Manila, and the proximity of the last 2 title defenses.
?We have barely 2 weeks of rest (after the Israel Gonzalez fight) before starting to train again,? Jimenez said. ?His body hasn?t fully recovered yet by then.?
?Maybe we also have to manage our schedule and control our movements back home,? Jimenez added, referring to the numerous functions and gatherings they have to attend to.
?I?ll screen our invitations next time and hope the people will understand.?
