By Nick Giongco
FRESNO, California – A pricey 12-oz filet mignon from renowned steakhouse Fleming’s helped Jerwin Ancajas refuel and recharge for his mandatory defense of the International Boxing Federation (IBF) super-flyweight crown set Saturday night at the Save Mart Center.
Hours after tipping the scales Friday afternoon at 114.8 lbs, just a shade below the division limit of 115, Ancajas retreated back to his room at the Courtyard Marriot to rest and recuperate.
His opponent Jonas Sultan, also came in under at 114.4 lbs, paving the way for their much-awaited all-Filipino world title clash, the first in almost 100 years, to take place without a hitch.
As Ancajas spent some hours behind closed doors, Brendan Gibbons, the son of the Filipino fighter’s agent Sean, drove to the high-end steak place located within the vast Fair Fashion Mall to make the $85 purchase.
Ancajas later revealed that the steak, which was accompanied by asparagus and mushrooms, bread and a smothering of butter and cheese spread, was worth it.
While the meat was topnotch, Ancajas had to restrain himself from consuming the whole chunk.
“My weight has to be controlled,” said Ancajas, noting that he would rather enter the ring weighing around 128 lbs and not more than that.
If he weighs more than 128 lbs, Ancajas feels it could affect his performance, putting his hold on the IBF 115-lb crown in jeopardy.
“128 lbs is perfect for me. I have tried it many times and this is my ideal fighting weight,” said the 27-year-old champion.
Does it guarantee that Ancajas is going to score his fifth straight stoppage win against Sultan, the southpaw titleholder dismissed the idea.
“I am not the type to look for a knockout. A knockout doesn’t come if you are looking for it. It comes at the right time,” he said.
For Ancajas, that’s the meat of the matter.
