By Nick Giongco
There is a prevailing sense of paranoia over at world champion Jerwin Ancajas's training camp in Magallanes, Cavite.
Ten days before Ancajas flies to the US where he will risk the International Boxing Federation (IBF) super-flyweight crown for the fourth time on Feb. 3, the fighter's manager, trainer and camp coordinator rolled into one expressed fears about the sudden surge of people showing up during training.
"They all want to see Jerwin train in the flesh," reported Joven Jimenez yesterday afternoon.
A pair of TV crews dropped by recently and filmed the sessions, a sign that there is a surging interest in Ancajas's showdown against Mexican challenger Israel Gonzalez set at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas.
"The fight is fast approaching and we are all concerned about catching something like a bad cold or flu," said Jimenez, who leads the Ancajas entourage that leaves for LA on Jan. 25.
Jimenez is asking their neighbors and those planning to visit for understanding.
"We are getting ready for a fight and not an excursion," said Jimenez.
Sean Gibbons, Team Ancajas's American agent, has actually issued a warning that Jimenez and Ancajas have accepted as gospel truth.
"This is a very important fight and not a mere tuneup fight," Jimenez said quoting Gibbons.
Based on what Jimenez and the support staff have been doing lately, that message was heard loud and clear.
The Gonzalez match will be Ancajas's first of three US fights lined up by Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank for 2018.