IBF super flyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas (28 wins, 1 loss, 1 draw, 19 KOs) and his challenger Israel Gonzalez (21 wins, 1 loss, 8 KOs) both made the 115-pound limit for their fight scheduled to take place tomorrow (Sunday, PH time) at the Bank of America Center in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Ancajas, who is marking the fourth title defense of the championship he won against McJoe Arroyo back in 2016, tipped the scales at 114.75 pounds while Gonzalez weighed in at 114 pounds, a full pound under the super flyweight or junior bantamweight limit.
According to ESPN5 reporter Renz Ongkiko, Ancajas ate chicken tinola and fish the day of the weigh-in.
Before he left for the Los Angeles, Ancajas weighed in at 126 pounds but shedding the excess pounds was not a big deal for the young fighter. ESPN5 reached out to Joven Jimenez, the trainer of the Filipino champion, hours before the weigh-in and he was confident that they were not going to have any problems.
"Right now we're at 115.4 pounds," Jimenez said three hours before the scheduled weigh in. "We might not even try to sweat anymore. We'll try to get his weight to 115 through urination."
"I'm so happy because it's rare to have the opportunity to be a Top Rank fighter because their fighters are on a different level," Ancajas told Top Rank reporter Crystina Poncher.
Asked about the comparison to Manny Pacquiao that many people are making, the young champion answered: "Manny is my idol. I watch his fights a lot and sometimes I try to emulate his moves."
Ancajas is also elated that his fight will be seen live on ESPN5 as this will make him reach a wider audience.
"Many people watch ESPN so I'm thankful that my first fight in the U.S. is airing on ESPN, even in the Philippines on ESPN5 because the fight is going to be live and it's the first time my fight is going to be aired live," Ancajas said.
Although he's not looking past his opponent, the 26-year-old boxer is eager to take on more challenges this year.
"Right now the super flyweight division is one of the hottest in boxing," he said. "I hope to get to fight the best. I want to try myself against the other champions."
Tension was off the roof as IBF Super Flyweight Champ Jerwin Ancajas & Mexican Challenger Israel Gonzalez once again face-off after the weigh-in this afternoon at the American Bank Center. @Sports5PH pic.twitter.com/0tNT1e0VHl
— Renz Ongkiko (@RenzON5e) February 3, 2018
The Jerwin Ancajas-Israel Gonzalez IBF super flyweight title fight will be shown live on ESPN5 and on livestream on www.espn5.com. Coverage begins at 10AM.