IBF World Super Flyweight champion McJoe Arroyo and challenger Jerwin Ancajas are ready for their title showdown, Saturday night at the Jurado Hall of the Philippine Marine Corps in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.
The two finally met for the very first time during the weigh-ins earlier today. Ancajas checked in at the scales exactly at 115 pound championship limit, while the champion from Cieba, Puerto Rico, checked in at a shade below at 114.
The 24-year-old Ancajas is looking forward to his first true test of his career against the 2007 World Amateur Championship bronze medalist and is drawing inspiration from the hometown crowd’s support in his fight.
“Ang masasabi ko lang advantage ako dahil sa dito ginanap yung laban,” Ancajas said during the press conference after the weigh-ins, vowing that he’ll do the best that he can to win the belt.
“Pinagsisikapan naming na makuha yung world title kaya kahit na sobrang hirap ng ginagawa naming (sa ensayo), talagang pinagtitiyagaan ko.”
For Arroyo, he plans to remain undefeated and defend the title he won in July of last year against “King” Arthur Villanueva in El Paso, Texas, USA.
“Jerwin Ancajas wants something that I have and I have to defend it proudly and I will do a 100 percent,” said the 30-year-old champion.
Joe Ramos, MP Promotions representative, expressed excitement for the upcoming match-up after it was rescheduled due to injury.
“Actually sobrang excited kami on behalf of Senator Manny Pacquiao kasi matagal na naming gusto palabanin si Jerwin on the world stage,” Ramos told Tiebreaker Times, adding that an opponent of Arroyo’s caliber is just what Ancajas needs to prove himself.
“McJoe will do his best obviously, hindi niya i-aallow na makuha yung belt niya basta-basta sa kana. The test for Jerwin will be for him to be able to maintain the same power, the same mindset that he’s had in his previous fights. Hindi niya pwedeng isipin na ibang level na ito.
“He has to maintain that confidence para tuloy-tuloy.”
Ramos, who also is Mahindra Enforcer’s assistant team manager, added the possibility of MP Promotion owner, Senator Manny Pacquiao, coming to tomorrows event to support his charge.
“Right now, I don’t know if he’s coming tomorrow night,” he said.
“He’s told me that he’ll do his best (to come) kasi may mga commitments siya but I think if he’s able to come back early enough, pupunta siya.”
The IBF championship bout is free for the public and the first bout will start at 4:00 in the afternoon on Saturday, September 3.
