HARD-HITTING Jerwin Ancajas, who has a record of 16 knockouts in 24 wins, with only one defeat and one draw, plans to go for a knockout against IBF super flyweight champion McJoe Arroyo of Puerto Rico when they clash in a title bout at the Philippine Navy Gymnasium in Taguig City on Saturday.
The 24-year-old Ancajas will engage the 26-year-old Puerto Rican, who won the vacant title with a 10th-round technical decision at the Don Haskins Convention Center over previously unbeaten, classy ALA boxer King Arthur Villanueva, whose handlers protested the premature stoppage by American referee Rafael Ramos, who was born in Puerto Rico.
This time around, the referee will be American Gene Del Blanco, who was erroneously referred to as a Filipino. Del Bianco works at the US Embassy in Manila and is regarded as a competent referee.
In an interview with the Manila Standard at the Grami Hotel along Sucat Road, Ancajas looked trim and ready.
“My condition is really good,” said Ancajas, who had trained for a long time after the fight was postponed since April after Arroyo suffered an injury to his left hand. “I trained everyday since my trainer (Joven Jimenez) told me the fight would surely take place, but I did only light training. I didn’t abuse my body.”
Ancajas said McJoe Arroyo “is good and moves well, but we’ll see what happens in the ring. My plan is to play around with him in the early rounds and if there is an opening and a chance, we’ll knock him out.”
But McJoe Arroyo told the Manila Standard: “ I’m happy to be here. Everybody has been nice and I look forward to a good fight on Saturday night which should be packed since Senator Manny Pacquiao has ordered the fight would be free to the public.”
At the official weigh-in on Friday, the champion Arroyo came in one pound under the super flyweight limit at 114 pounds, while Ancajas tipped the scales at the exact stipulated weight.
Attending the weigh-in at the venue of the fight itself were fight supervisor and GAB Commissioner Fritz Gaston and Sean Gibbons and Joe Ramos, who represented MP Promotions.