by Nick Giongco
Srisaket Sor Rungvisai is not as invincible as others picture him to be, Filipino Jerwin Ancajas said after watching the Thai terror retain his World Boxing Council super-flyweight crown Saturday night in Bangkok.
Ancajas was a few feet from the corner of the heavy-handed Sor Rungvisai, who fashioned out a one-sided 12-round decision over Mexican challenger Iran Diaz at the Impact Arena.
“Sor Rungvisai leaves himself open because he has this habit of dropping his hands,” Ancajas, the International Boxing Federation titleholder, said in Filipino when asked to size up his potential foe.
“He allows himself to get hit,” said Ancajas, stressing that he is confident his team can come up with a gameplan that will put to waste Sor Rungvisai’s edge in firepower.
Joven Jimenez, who joined Ancajas in Bangkok alongside US matchmaker Sean Gibbons and son Brendan and Team Ancajas social media staffer Mark Lontayao, insists that the Thai looks made-to-order.
“Sor Rungvisai is right there in front of you and he doesn’t mind getting hit,” said Jimenez. “This is the type of fighter Jerwin wants, a style that would bring out the best in him.”
Ancajas wasn’t as explosive last week in Oakland when he had to settle for a split draw with Alejandro Santiago of Mexico and Gibbons makes a clever observation.
“Styles really make fights,” said Gibbons, noting how Sor Rungvisai stood in front of his opponent so he could deliver his punches.
“We found the guy that is the signature fight (for Ancajas). I think this is it,” said Gibbons.
Gibbons points to Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum as having the crucial role in determining whether an Ancajas-Sor Rungvisai is doable or not.
Arum had also declared during the runup to Ancajas fight that he can get a deal in place for a fight with Sor Rungvisai, who boasts of a 47-4-1 win-loss-draw record with 41 KOs.
