Ancajas prepares for tough title defense against Rodriguez

Can Jerwin Ancajas continue his winning streak and overcome the surging Jonathan Javier Rodriguez? (Frederic J. Brown/AFP)

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

 

Is Jonathan Javier Rodriguez the biggest threat to Jerwin Ancajas’ junior-bantamweight ninth title defense?

The hard-hitting Rodriguez is fresh off a dominant win against emerging star Felipe Orucuta who was knocked out cold in the 10th round and had to undergo an operation to remove a blood clot.

Orucuta was induced into a coma and spent nearly two months in the hospital before being declared as fully healed.

However, despite the vicious power Rodriguez possesses, Ancajas remains unfazed and was even delighted to get in the ring with him.

“I saw his fighting style and I really want an opponent like him, He is determined and isn’t afraid to slug it out,” said the junior-bantamweight champion.

Ancajas is on an eight-championship title defense winning streak and vows to rack it up to nine and prevail over the hyped Rodriguez.

The Filipino star is currently sitting on a stellar 32-1-2 record with 22 knockouts while Rodriguez has a 22-1 record with 16 knockouts.

“I won’t let the crown slip away. I’ll do everything to win. That no matter what happens, the fans would be satisfied,” added Ancajas.

Team Ancajas will resume training in the US and is still under the supervision of Joven Jimenez and Jonas Sultan.