SENATOR and eight-division world champion Manny Pacquuao has presented newly crowned International Boxing Federation super flyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas with a bonus of P500,000 for his rousing IBF super flyweight championship victory over Puerto Rico’s McJoe Arroyo during a courtesy call at his senate office on Monday.
Ancajas, who is the son of a banana plantation worker in Panabo, Davao del Norte, dominated the Puerto Rican world champion and even sent him to the ropes with a flurry of punches in the eighth round to win a unanimous 12-round decision at the Navy Gymnasium in Taguig City last Saturday.
The southpaw earned a measly P173,000 due to a low purse bid of a mere $25,000, with the champion getting the bulk of the money.
Ancajas told the Manila Standard in a pre-fight interview that he agreed to the small purse just so he could earn a crack at the title and his hard work and sacrifice, along with trainer Joven Jimenez paid off handsomely.
“What was important to me was to win the world crown and bring honor to our country. Money, to me, was not the primary motivation,” Ancajas said.
Senator Pacquiao was touched by Ancajas’ humility and determination, which reminded him of his own career.
He indicated Ancajas, who gave MP Promotions its first world title, deserved to get a bonus for “bringing honor to our country.”
Pacquiao noted that Ancajas had all the attributes champions are made of—“humility, courage, determination and strong faith in God.”