LOS ANGELES — Boxing’s longest reigning champion surrendered his belt last Saturday when Jerwin Ancajas lost a unanimous decision battle against Fernando Martinez at The Chelsea inside The Cosmopolitan hotel on the world-famous Las Vegas strip..
Ancajas was making the 10th defense of his IBF junior bantamweight title when he met the fate of a tornado from Argentina.
Despite having problems shedding weight the day before, looking emaciated and never appearing to have his legs underneath him, Ancajas showed the mettle of a champion by going toe-to-toe against a determined slugger.
In the end, the fresher Martinez was just too much as he pounded the 30-year old Filipino with 1,046 punches, 427 of which found its mark.
Ancajas connected on 192 of 816 punches but it wasn’t enough to sway the judges’ nod.
After the 12-round duel, Ancajas offered no excuses and congratulated his conqueror.
That’s what’s called the grace of a champion.
As Team Ancajas rises from the rubble of this unexpected etback, the team is mulling on whether to move up to the bantamweight division or invoke a rematch clause to fight Martinez again.
A decision should come shortly.
