STOCKTON, California ? Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum was ecstatic the day after Jerwin Ancajas put on a show against Japanese mandatory challenger Ryuichi Funai before more than 10,000 fans at the Stockton Arena.
?I am very pleased,? Arum told the Bulletin on Sunday from his Las Vegas home, images of Ancajas? seventh-round stoppage fresh in the mind of the 87-year-old boxing man.
?It was a performance we expected from him against that type of an opponent? crisp-punching,? said the Top Rank chief, who didn?t hide his disappointment when he last saw Ancajas in action.
Last September, Ancajas struggled against an offbeat Mexican Alejandro Santiago, who forced the Filipino southpaw to a draw after 12 rounds in Oakland.
But following Ancajas? total domination of Funai, whose kamikaze style earned the ire of the Ancajas team, Arum viewed the Filipino champion in a different light.
?Jerwin can become a big attraction,? said Arum, who targeted September as the likely date for Ancajas? eighth defense against unbeaten Andrew Moloney of Australia.
Told about Arum?s plans, the major players of Team Ancajas ? trainer Joven Jimenez and US connection Sean Gibbons ? welcomed the news.
Ancajas himself relished the prospect of battling the rugged Moloney, who packs a 19-0 record with 12 KOs.
?Fighter talaga, suntok ng suntok (He?s a non-stop puncher),? said Ancajas, who upped his own mark to 31-1-2 with 21 KOs following Funai?s demolition.
Set to come home on May 14, Ancajas took some post-fight time to thank his patrons, among them San Miguel Corporation president and chief operating officer Ramon S. Ang.
