By Nick Giongco
Jerwin Ancajas is starting to contemplate about abandoning the super-flyweight division after experiencing a bit of a problem making the 115-lb limit over the weekend in Oakland, California.
Though he doesn’t blame it on his lackluster showing against Mexican Alejandro Santiago, the Filipino southpaw had to go the extra mile in meeting the weight requirement.
Just hours before the official weighin, Ancajas had to put on a thick rubberized sweat suit while shadowboxing for at least 30 minutes.
In the end, Ancajas was below the limit, tipping the scales at 114.2.
Conditioning coach Delfin Boholst, the former national team standout who took a crash course in strength training at California State U-Fullerton, insists that Ancajas just wanted to make sure he will not take a second weighin.
Joven Jimenez, Ancajas’ manager-trainer, swears that his fighter has drained himself at 115 lbs.
The fight with Santiago, which ended on a split draw at the Oracle Arena, was Ancajas’ sixth defense of the crown he had won two years ago.
“He’s all banged up at 115,” said Jimenez, adding that plans are afoot for Ancajas to try his luck at 118 lbs (bantamweight).
Ancajas partly agrees but maintains that leaving 115 lbs would largely depend on what will be his next fight.
Ancajas tells Jimenez that a fight with a big named opponent – regardless of the outcome – would persuade him in leaving 115 in favor of campaigning at 118.
That big-named for could either be Mexican Juan Francisco Estrada or Thai Srisaket Sor Rungvisai.
In fact, Ancajas and Jimenez are flying this weekend to Bangkok to watch Sor Rungvisai defend his crown.
“We’ll size him up,” said Jimenez.
