Jerwin Ancajas continues to train as pandemic repeatedly postpones his next title defense

Reigning IBF world super flyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas is sticking to his training regimen despite repeated postponements of his next world title defense due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ancajas (32-1-2, 22KOs) is slated to defend his title for the ninth time against Mexican slugger Jonathan Rodriguez in Las Vegas in a yet to be determined date.

According to Ancajas’ trainer and manager Joven Jimenez, the only thing that is holding up the fight is their arrival in America.

“Jerwin must attend an interview to renew his visa. It was originally scheduled for March but came the lockdown (ECQ). We were rescheduled on August 17 but there was another lockdown (MECQ),” Jimenez told GMA News Online.

“His visa was approved, it is just that we are required by the embassy to attend a formal interview then we can fly out.”

The 28-year-old Ancajas last saw action in December 2019 against Miguel Gonzalez where he won by way of sixth-round technical knockout.

The nine-month layoff is the longest that Ancajas has had since he became a world champion in 2016. His eagerness to fight again is evident with his hard work in training but Jimenez is extra careful not to overwork his top pupil.

“We are very excited to fight because we’ve been training and sparring since January but and I’m not worried about overtraining him because we give Jerwin sufficient rest,” he iterated.

“We always adjust and balance everything. We just want to get back in the ring.” – RC, GMA News