By CARLO ANOLIN
Fernando Martinez just proved that his first win against Jerwin Ancajas was no fluke after all.
Martinez asserted his dominance once more and beat Ancajas via a unanimous decision on Saturday night, Oct. 8, (Sunday morning in Manila) at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.
Not even the win of Tokyo Games bronze medal winner Eumir Marcial earlier could give Ancajas the needed spark and inspiration in his effort to get revenge.
The 31-year-old Argentine boxer took the judges’ nod with a score of 118-110 118-110, 119-109 in his statement win, perhaps sealing the deal and settling business with the former Filipino champion.
Marcial, on the other hand, overcame a cut above his right eye to win his third straight professional bout against a taller American Steven Pichardo in the undercard.
Marcial showed aggression from the get-go and forced the 6-foot-1 Pichardo to be on his defensive stance for the most part of the match.
An accidental head clash as well in the second round opened a cut on Marcial but that did not hinder him from unleashing accurate uppercuts and solid body shots to slow down Pichardo, who slipped to an 8-3-1 record along with two KOs.
Marcia’s performance also saw an obvious improvement from the last time when he faced Isiah Hard last April, where he had a successful comeback win after a fourth-round stoppage.
Just like in their first encounter, a feisty and sturdy Martinez proved too cunning against Ancajas, who seemed to lose steam anew heading into the final rounds just when he clearly needed a knockout to win the match.
Martinez just would not budge and kept charging forward, trading punches with the solid left hooks of Ancajas in the latter rounds.
“This was a validation of the first fight,” said Martinez through a translator. “Definitely the training was very hard. I prepared really well. I’m ready for anyone. My record shows I’m a champion.”
Despite Ancajas’ strong start, especially in the second round, that proved to be much of it for the Panabo, Davao del Norte native as Martinez just kept marching on with his powerful body shots and precise combos.
Martinez showed who’s boss in the middle rounds, cornering and forcing Ancajas to the ropes before unloading multiple combinations and counters against Ancajas’ left hooks.
But that wasn’t the last of Martinez — not even one bit — as the reigning IBF champion continued the onslaught in the eighth rounds onward against a gassed Ancajas, who now fell to a 33-3-2 win-loss-draw record on top of 22 knockouts.
Ancajas’ face also started to swell in the latter round even as an accidental head clash took a toll on the Filipino pugilist with an open cut.
The 2016 Rio Olympian actually ended Ancajas’ six-year reign when the two first clashed last February, posting almost the same result while displaying gutsiness and sturdiness in his boxing arsenal. (With a report from AFP)
