Marcial and Ancajas to fly together for US bouts

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

 

The future of Philippine boxing, Eumir Marcial and Jerwin Ancajas, will fly together going to the US for their respective bouts this year.

Marcial, who just signed with the Manny Pacquiao (MP) Promotions following his decision to turn professional after a stellar amateur career, will have his debut bout in the US in October.

MP Promotions president Sean Gibbons said that they will be looking for four or six-rounders for Marcial’s first three matches, considering that the PH slugger will still compete with the same format in the Olympics.

Gibbons and the management also granted Marcial’s wish to bring along Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) foreign consultant Don Abnett and coach Ronald Chavez to also start their Olympic training for 2021.

Meanwhile, Ancajas will defend his International Boxing Federation (IBF) super flyweight for the ninth time.

His opponent, the hard-hitting Jonathan Rodriguez of Mexico, will try to stop his reign in the IBF super flyweight division.

Ancajas’ chief trainer Joven Jimenez said that they are more than ready, with his ward already having sparred over a hundred rounds in the last two months.

“Before we fly to the US, I intend to lower it to 130. Right now, we’re just waiting for Jerwin’s visa and we’re ready to go,” added Jimenez.