Filipino boxers

Ancajas ready to tangle with Gonzalez or Estrada

Roy Luarca

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Ancajas ready to tangle with Gonzalez or Estrada
An impressive ninth title defense may put Jerwin Ancajas on collision course with the super flyweight bigwigs

Jerwin Ancajas watched intently from his temporary home in Los Angeles as fellow super flyweight champions Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez and Juan Francisco Estrada keep their titles on Friday, October 23 (Saturday, October 24, Philippine time) in Mexico City.

The Filipino IBF 115-pound titlist knows it will only be a matter of time before he trades punches with either Gonzalez, the Nicaraguan legend, or Estrada, the Mexican warrior.

Gonzalez showed he remains formidable with a clear unanimous decision over Mexican Israel Gonzalez in their WBA encounter.

Estrada, on the other hand, shrugged  off a third round knockdown to stop Carlos Cuadras in the 11th round of a WBC tussle.

Most likely, Gonzalez and Estrada would figure in a grudge rematch first in 2021 before Ancajas gets his turn.

Long chasing a unification with either of the two pound-for-pound candidates, Ancajas doesn’t mind waiting again.

Ancajas is training for his ninth title defense, probably against Mexican Jonathan Rodriguez, but no date has been set by Top Rank Promotions as it claims the year’s schedule is already full.

While the general perception is Gonzalez and Estrada are still in optimum form, Ancajas’ discerning eyes saw a bit of slippage.

The soft-spoken pride of Panabo City believes he’s now ready to tangle with either one.

“I’m ready to face them,” Ancajas said. “I can sense it from their performances.”

Chief trainer Joven Jimenez sounded even more optimistic about Ancajas’ chances against either Gonzalez (50-2, 41 knockouts) or Estrada (41-3, 28 knockouts).

“He can handle both,” said Jimenez, noting the punches of both Gonzalez and Estrada were no longer as crisp and their movements not as sleek as before. “They (punches) were hammer-like back then.”

For Jimenez, the longer Ancajas’ fight with Gonzalez or Estrada materializes, the better it would be for his ward.

Ancajas (32-1-2, 22 KOs) is 28 years old, Estrada 30, and Gonzalez 33.

That’s why Jimenez wants Ancajas to focus on his training for his next bout. An impressive win will put him on collision course with the division bigwigs. – Rappler.com

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