By NICK GIONGCO
OAKLAND, California – Jerwin Ancajas was on burst mode on a day when fighters are supposed to keep their guns on safety lock as the Filipino gunner prepares to go on a firing spree in the sixth defense of the International Boxing Federation (IBF) super-flyweight crown.
Five days before risking the IBF 115-lb title against Mexican challenger Alejandro Santiago at the Oracle Arena, the southpaw Ancajas took two trips to the fitness facility of his hotel on Sunday.
Just before noontime, Ancajas tagged along his training team downstairs for a burning workout under the uncharacteristic scorching autumn sun.
Seven hours later, as the heat subsided and gave way to the cool fall breeze, Ancajas showed up at the gym for another round of blistering session.
As fight day nears, Ancajas is making sure he covers all the bases as he expects a rough outing against the upset-conscious Santiago, who has fought almost exclusively in Mexico.
Fighting for the third time on US soil, Ancajas feels the Tijuana-based Santiago, 22, will perform better than his 16-2-4 win-loss-draw record (with 7 KOs) suggests.
“He knows that a win will open up big opportunities that’s why I expect him to be at his best,” said the 26-year-old Ancajas (30-1-1 with 20 KOs).
With the fight just days away, the major players of the event have started to arrive in this city as the advance party of Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank has checked in.
The 86-year-old Arum is flying in Tuesday, just in time for the press conference the next day.
Also on Tuesday, Ancajas will drop by Balboa High School on Mission Street in nearby San Francisco to reach out to the large Fil-Amstudent population.