By Ponciano “John” Melo Jr.
Jerwin Ancajas says in the profession of boxing, what he experienced is just part of a prizefighter’s life.
The Filipino boxing champ said he understands the circumstances that led to the postponement of his fight against Mexican Jonathan Rodriguez, but he can’t help feel a bit dispirited that his title defense could not push through.
“It’s normal in boxing,” said Ancajas in Filipino. “We’re used to those kinds of things,” he added as his supposed Nov. 2 fight in Carson, California hit a permanent roadblock.
He was slated to defend his International Boxing Federation (IBF) super-flyweight title against Rodriguez, but the Mexican’s camp could not find a workaround to a visa-related hiccup in time for the 115-pound showdown.
This prompted Top Rank Promotions to cancel the bout as the challenger was stalled from traveling to the United States.
Although recent reports have said that the 27-year-old Filpino will take on Chile’s Miguel 'Aguja' Gonzalez on Dec. 7, 2019, for the super-flyweight championship bout to finally push through.
Their matchup will be the main undercard of Emmanuel Navarrete and Francisco Horta’s WBO super-bantamweight showdown.