Jerwin Ancajas wins by DQ against wrestler Sukpraserd Ponpitak in the Philippines
Jerwin Ancajas is preparing for his February 2024 fight against Takuma Inoue. (Photo by Naoki Fukuda)
MANILA, Philippines – Jerwin Ancajas’ homecoming ended in a disappointing victory as he scored an upset victory over Thailand’s Sukpraserd Ponpitak in their 10-round featherweight bout on Sunday at the Mandaluyong City College Gym. Part of the “Blow-By-Blow” boxing series, the fight was marred by repeated abuse from the Thai veteran, which led to a sudden stoppage in the fifth round.
Ancajas, who once held the IBF junior bantamweight title, wasted no time in telling himself who he was. The Filipino southpaw dropped Ponpitak early in the first round with a quick right hook, catching the Thai cold and setting the tempo for the rest of the contest. While Ponpitak recovered from the knockdown, Ancajas continued to find his rhythm, landing a series of clean combinations as he took command of the fight.
However, what started as an outstanding performance from Ancajas quickly turned into a sordid affair. Ponpitak, 36 years old and the clear frontrunner, used strong tactics. In the third round, the Thai was cautioned for overhandling and sweeping Ancajas to the canvas, actions that cost him a point. Despite the warnings, Ponpitak continued to use illegal moves, repeatedly rolling and pushing Ancajas to the ground.
In the fifth round, after Ponpitak again cornered Ancajas, the referee had seen enough and ejected Thai for repeated violations, giving Ancajas the victory by disqualification.
It was a bittersweet victory for Ancajas, who is fighting in front of his home crowd for the first time since his February loss to Takuma Inoue (20-1, 5 KO) in a WBA bantamweight title fight. The knockout win pushes his record to 35-4-2 (23 KOs), but the nature of the victory left many in attendance wishing for a definitive finish. Ponpitak, whose bad tactics overshadowed what could have been a very competitive fight, dropped to 30-20 (20 KOs).
Despite the poor finish, Ancajas still shows the sharpness and strength that made him a champion. His precise combinations and overall ring were on full display, even if the fight’s premature ending robbed him of a chance to be beaten.
With this victory under his belt, Ancajas can now refocus on his path back to world title contention. Whether he stays at featherweight or decides to return to junior bantamweight, “Pretty Boy” still has a lot of fights left in him. As he continues to rebuild after recent setbacks, Ancajas remains a threat in whatever category he chooses to campaign in.
