IBF junior bantamweight champion Fernando Martinez reasserted his mastery over former champion Jerwin Ancajas on Sunday, October 9, at the Dignity Sports Park in Carson, California.
Much like the result of their first collision last February, the Argentine boxer dealt Ancajas a sound unanimous decision loss, 119-109, 118-110 and 118-110.
The 30-year-old Ancajas was actually the aggressor the first few rounds. But according to international boxing analyst Ryan Songalia, it was that unsustainable aggression combined with Martinez’s unrelenting attacks that spelled disaster for Ancajas.
“Martinez just has so much energy, so much strength that it is hard to stay on the 12 rounds,” said Songalia.
Songalia also said that Ancajas’ weight struggles might’ve affected his movements and it might be best for him to move to the 118-pound or bantamweight division and reassess his fighting style.
“What I think, for him would be sensible at the moment, is to take it all the way back, I think he needs to start just running off wins, I think he needs a long rest after this difficult fight and then just start coming back slowly. Just get back in the win column, sort of rediscover who he is.”
On the other hand, Songalia admired the Filipino boxer’s will.
“All credit to Ancajas, he showed a lot of courage and never stopped trying to win the fight.”
Ancajas’ record fell to 33 wins, three losses and two draws while Martinez surged to his 15th win against zero losses.
Aside from the Ancajas fight, Filipino middleweight boxer and Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Eumir Marcial also fought in the undercard.
The 26-year-old Marcial beat Steven Pichardo via unanimous decision, 60-54.
It was Marcial’s third professional boxing victory but Songalia admitted that fans are expecting more out of the Zamboangueno boxer.
“One of the drawbacks of being such a high profile guys turning professionals, people have so many expectations out of him right now. Yes, he fought a very tough guy who has never been stopped before and wasn’t stopped again in this fight but they have expectations,” Songalia stated.
“Marcial has not been babied, he’s a guy that has been turned pro against tough guys who are just not gonna lay down and allow Marcial run all over him.”
Marcial now has an unblemished 3-0 win-loss record off wins over Amdrew Whitfield, Isiah Hart and Pichardo. (Jelyn Saulog, Leila Mae T. Sauco | PTV OJT)
