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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Boxing devider Martinez upsets Ancajas, captures IBF junior-bantamweight title

Martinez upsets Ancajas, captures IBF junior-bantamweight title

Published Feb 27, 2022 12:26 pm

Jerwin Ancajas' six-year reign is over.

Fernando Martinez (right) and Jerwin Ancajas exchange body shots during their 12-round IBF junior-bantamweight title bout at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas, Nevada Saturday night, Feb. 26 there (Sunday in Manila). (Showtime Boxing)

Argentine boxer Fernando Martinez came from all angles aggressively to overwhelm and dethrone Ancajas in their nail-biting 12-round IBF junior-bantamweight bout at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas, Nevada Saturday night, Feb. 26 there (Sunday in Manila).

Max Deluca had it 117-111 while David Sutherland and Steve Weisfeld both gave a 118-110 to Martinez for a convincing unanimous decision win.

Martinez, coming in as a hungry challenger, leveled Ancajas' boxing on the inside and threw all sorts of punches with precision and power as the former Filipino champion eventually sustained a left black eye due to little to no head movement.

"It hurts so much that my father's not here for this great moment in my life, but I know he oversaw this," said Martinez in a post-match interview with veteran sportscaster and commentator Jim Gray through the help of a translator.

Martinez had suffered from depression and alcoholism following the death of his father Abel, who was his inspiration to take the path of a boxer. Abel died before Martinez's Olympic showing in the 2016 Rio Games.

"Also, I'm just extremely happy for my corner, for everybody that supported me through the years, especially for the Argentina," added the 30-year-old Martinez.

From the fifth round onwards, Martinez put on a show with the same movement, energy, and style and traded combinations and body shots with Ancajas, who marked his debut fight in Sin City.

It was only until the 10th round that Ancajas of MP Promotions initiated his attacks but Martinez remained unfazed and in assault mode as the Argentine fighter closed in with strong combinations.

Referee Jack Reiss, however, came to Ancajas' corner and expressed his concern on how much open blows he had endured the entire match.

Both boxers started the 12th round wild with continuous trade of punches but Ancajas, gassed but standing still, wasn't able to return to any significant blows midway the last round.

Martinez, putting all the work and pressure, connected a clean uppercut and finished the job with absolute dominance as he closed in with powerful combinations with the final 20 seconds -- signaling the end of an era for the Filipino great. Ancajas held on the IBF junior-bantamweight belt since September 2016 and defended it nine times.


Martinez remained undefeated in 14 matches on top of eight knockouts while Ancajas, 30, suffered the second loss of his career with 33 wins, 22 coming from KOs, and two draws.

Ancajas, however, has a rematch clause in his contract and expressed that he is willing to take on Martinez once more in stronger and better form.

"Masaya po ako na nakalaban si Martinez na isang Olympian, magaling na boksingero. Proud ako sa nakalaban ko, magaling, mahirap na kalaban "I'm happy that I was able to face an Olympian and good boxer in Martinez. I'm proud that I fought with a good and challenging boxer)," said Ancajas.

"Nakita natin kung gaano ka determinado si Martinez sa laban ngayon at pinakita niya kung ano ang challenger. Sa ngayon na-decision po. Marami po akong natutunan sa laban na 'to (We saw how determined Martinez was and he show the real spirit of a challenger. I lost via decision and I learned a lot from this)."

Related Tags

Fernando Martinez Jerwin Ancajas International Boxing Federation IBF
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