Jerwin Ancajas Remains IBF Champ via a Draw Against Santiago
On paper, it seemed the IBF super flyweight champion would be in a fight were he would dominate with ease. Not many people had heard of Alexandro (Agustin) Santiago prior to the scheduled bout in Oracle Arena.
Was Ancajas in for a rude awakening when he stepped into the ring with the #14 ranked contender. Given the record and early setbacks in the career of Santiago, this is a perfect example of how a fighter should never look past their opponent.
The 22 year-old fighter from Mexico was able to give as much as he took. Ancajas is very reminiscent of a Manny Pacquiao in how he utilizes movement from the southpaw position and his tricky angles coupled with feints.
However, Santiago prepared well and was ready to counter anything the champion had up his sleeve. The bout was close throughout with both fighters having trouble creating the gap to show the judges he is the superior fighter.
In the championship rounds, Ancajas started to gain a slight edge in the fight. His stamina and ring IQ showed why he was attempting to defend his title for the sixth time. Santiago just would not go away and made sure he captured his moments in times where the champion may have been getting the upper hand.
It seemed to be a case of “a little too late” for the champion as the challenger shined in the majority of the rounds.
In The End
Unfortunately, the majority of every great fight gets mired in controversy. The official scorecards read 116-112 for Ancajas, 118-111 for Santiago and 114-114, officially making he bout a draw.
While the fight was indeed close, the controversy lies within the ability of two judges to see two completely different versions of the fight. Ancajas will maintain his champion status with the draw.
The non-stop action coupled with the controversial scorecards warrants the opportunity for a rematch that fans would love to see!
By: EJ Williams
