FILIPINO world boxing champion Jerwin Ancajas flew to the United States yesterday to continue his training at the Wild Card gym for his fight on Feb. 3 at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Ancajas was accompanied by his trainer-manager Joven Jimenez, whose partnership in training at their home gym in Magallanes, Cavite has done wonders for the Panabo native.
“Handang-handa na po ako,” said Ancajas, who will defend his International Boxing Federation junior bantamweight title for the first time in the US territory against Israel Gonzales.
The 26-year-old Ancajas has completed 90 rounds of sparring under Jimenez and will have a light workout at Wild Card, owned by Manny Pacquiao’s long-time trainer Freddie Roach, before flying again to Texas on Jan. 28.
Anjacas, who weighs 121 pounds upon leaving for the States, is confident though that he will make the 118-pound limit for the division.
“Kayang-kaya na po ‘yun. Ensayado po ako,” added Ancajas, who has a fight record of 28 wins, with 19 knockouts, against a loss and a draw.
Gonzales has 21 wins, eight of them via knockout, against a single loss.
Fellow Filipino fighter Mark Anthony Geraldo dealt Ancajas his only loss during their fight for the World Boxing Organization Asia Pacific Super flyweight title bout in 2012 in Cebu.