Mexican fails to answer bell for 8th.
Defending champion Jerwin Ancajas pounced on Mexican challenger Jose Alfredo Rodriguez for seven rounds late Saturday night to retain his International Boxing Federation (IBF) super-flyweight crown at the Cotai Arena in Macau.
Citing a shoulder injury, Rodriguez failed to come out for the eighth round, enabling Ancajas to retain the IBF 115-lb title for the first time since winning it from Puerto Rican McJoe Arroyo last year.
Ancajas, 25, was all over Rodriguez, 27, from the start, buzzing the Sinaloa native with solid combinations to the head and body, turning the scheduled 12-rounder into a clinic in punching showcase.
The victory raised Ancajas’ win-loss-draw record to 26-1-1 with 17 KOs, while the loss dropped Rodriguez’s mark to 32-5 with 18 KOs.
Ancajas trained long and hard for the fight as he set up camp in Tanay, Rizal and Imus, Cavite, before spending the final two weeks in seclusion in Lipa City, Batangas.
Promoted by Manny Pacquiao’s MP Promotions, Ancajas is one of just three reigning Filipino world champions after Pacquiao and bantamweight Marlon Tapales.
Ancajas, who hails from Panabo City, Davao del Norte, took home $40,000 for defending the title and looks poised to earn more as MP Promotions has grand plans for him this year.
