Ancajas comes in at 114 3/4 lbs
Limit is 115; champ then feasts on chicken tinola, fish, steak
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – The worst fears of Jerwin Ancajas and his camp are over. After seeing the International Boxing Federation (IBF) super-flyweight titleholder’s weight fluctuate the last few days, Ancajas tipped in at 114 ¾ lbs during Friday’s official weighin at the American Bank Center, site of his fourth defense of the crown against Israel Gonzalez.
While Ancajas’ camp was not in panic mode, the members of his entourage finally heaved a sigh of relief after the 26-year-old southpaw came in below the 115 lb limit.
Apparently, Ancajas even had more difficulties making the weight when he defended the title for the third time last year in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
“That was harder than this one,” said Ancajas, narrating that the wintry weather in the UK prevented him from going outdoors.
Although the climate here is far from bitter cold, the winds coming from the Gulf of Mexico also made it quite chilly as temperatures dropped to 10 degrees Celsius during the daytime.
The overcast skies likewise made the day gloomy and even long-time residents here had to put on warm jackets to battle the cold air.
When Ancajas arrived here from Los Angeles last Sunday, he was weighing between 119-121 lbs.
Even after an intense workout on Wednesday, he was still two pounds over the limit.
Still, Ancajas, lead trainer Joven Jimenez and the support staff made up of former world champion Rodel Mayol, 1990 Asian Games gold medalist Roberto Jalnaiz, ex-national team standout Delfin Boholst and 2012 London Olympian Mark Anthony Barriga was not alarmed.
“He could still drink a little bit of water and eat a little while he was making weight so when it was time for him to make the weight, it was just easy,” said Jimenez.
Deprived of his favorite food the past several days, Ancajas finally ended his ‘hunger strike’ by having chicken tinola, fried fish and medium rare grilled steak for dinner inside his hotel room later.
Gonzalez, incidentally, also didn’t encounter problems with the scales after coming in at 114.
By the time he answers the bell, Ancajas will blow up to 128 lbs.