Nutritionist keeps eye on Ancajas’ weight

STOCKTON, California – A small plate of poached tilapia fillet in tomatoes sprinkled with ground pepper was brought up to the room of Jerwin Ancajas on Wednesday night.

It wasn’t exactly the type of meal one would serve somebody who is going to be risking his life in three days time.

But given that the official weigh-in is less than three days away, nutritionist/dietitian Jeaneth Aro, fresh from enduring a 12-hour flight from Manila, made sure the Filipino southpaw’s diet will be supervised.

Ancajas meets mandatory challenger Ryuichi Funai on Saturday night at the Stockton Arena and Aro is leaving no stone unturned that his ward enters the scheduled 12rounder answers the bell in terrific shape and not weary and drained from making the 115-lb limit.

“We’d like to see him put on a great performance and not looking gaunt and weak just so he can make the weight,” said Aro after personally preparing the fish dish, one of three meals Ancajas got for the day.

Earlier in the day, Ancajas jogged around the neighborhood while Aro boiled three eggs but took out the yolk for breakfast. Another meal later consisted just had a 1/3 cup serving of white rice.

As of Wednesday, Ancajas was only less than three lbs over, something that is right on track in time for Friday’s official weigh-in.

By morning of Friday, Aro expects Ancajas to be on weight given the kind of diet the 27-year-old fighter will be subjected to.

“I would like to see him weigh a little under 115,” said the UP-educated Aro, who began working with Ancajas late last year.