OAKLAND, California ? Filipino champion Jerwin Ancajas and Mexican challenger Alejandro Santiago acted like schoolmates bumping into each other during a chance encounter Tuesday at the lobby of their hotel. Three days before they clash at the Oracle Arena, Ancajas and Santiago wrapped themselves in pre-fight goodwill, smiling, shaking hands and exchanging a few words.
Ancajas treated his rival with utmost courtesy even though he was clearly exhausted from a side trip to San Francisco. Santiago, who flew in from San Diego after a 45-minute drive from his native Tijuana, was likewise cordial toward the reigning International Boxing Federation super-flyweight titlist.
Later, Santiago would disclose to a handful of scribes that he had trained long and hard for his first shot at a world crown.
?Three months of training,? said Santiago, 22, in Spanish, intent on ending Ancajas? two-year reign as IBF 115-lb king.
Despite his underdog status, Santiago swears he is determined to score a huge upset on fight night.
?I know I am the underdog and Ancajas is the big favorite but I know that I have what it takes to win,? said Santiago, who packs a 14-2-4 record with seven KOs.
Ancajas, who sports a 30-1-1 slate with 20 KOs, will be fighting for the third time this year after posting victories in February in Corpus Christi in Texas and Fresno last May.
A win over Santiago is foremost on Ancajas? mind as he is looking to take on the division?s big guns next.
A sidetrip to Bangkok next week is on the radar screen as his handlers want him to drum up interest for a potential clash with Srisaket Sor Rungvisai of Thailand.
Sor Rungvisai is defending his World Boxing Council title on Oct. 6 and Team Ancajas plans to issue a formal challenge should he succeed in defending the crown.
