The Jerwin Ancajas Story:

The Jerwin Ancajas Story:

By @HighGuardBoxing

Training under trees to the lights of the world stage – the story of Jerwin Ancajas.

Many may remember Jerwin Ancajas as the relentless Filipino who took out Jamie Conlan in just six rounds to retain his IBF Junior Bantamweight title. However, life was not always easy for the world champion.

Ancajas spent his entire career, prior to winning a world title, training underneath a few mango trees near to his home in Panabo, Philippines. It was only when he won his world title in Brisbane against McJoe Arroyo that truly announced himself as a top contender and although only earning a measly $3,750, he also earned the chance for higher paydays by becoming one of the top fighters of his division.

That is when he and his trainer put some funds together to build their own gym, known to them as ‘Survival Camp’. Many people’s idea of a boxing gym may involve a somewhat deteriorating ring surrounded by punchbags held by together usually by scaffolding or a wall that has the same paint that greeted fighter’s decades before you. However, as you can see, Ancajas’ gym does not have that same look or even that same smell of leather as a usual boxing gym.

It is quite peculiar to see that a world champion trains where there are no world class facilities or even enough shelter from the sweltering heat. Yet, it is typical that fighters from poorer countries must work harder to get their chances and often with so much training within poor environments before a ‘big break’, it is easy to become a creature of habit. It is often too easy to forget that before Manny Pacquiao became a frequent guest to spotlights of Vegas and American pay-per-view, he too struggled fighting within the streets before having to turn professional ensure his career progressed.

A professional career in sport can be a slow one in the Philippines. Often it involves fighting for a small purse until an opportunity comes your way to box overseas or to be noticed by a large promoter. Often, these opportunities pass by many a young talent and such are often resigned to fighting their counterparts in leisure centres on a fee that is barely enough to get by. This can often be enough to frustrate and dishearten a young professional. Fighting for money in Manila or elsewhere in the Phillipines often becomes a way of life, much like many of our nine to five jobs.

Ancajas now has the leverage to move on from his last title defence against Jamie Conlan and could push on to unify with the other larger names in the division such as Kal Yafai or Sor Rungisvai. As often is the case with fighters who had to turn professional early to support themselves, their roaring success in the pros can often make up for their underachieving amateur days.

From poverty to becoming a people’s champion for the Phillipines, Ancajas has already somewhat overachieved and lived out his wildest dreams. With a title in hand and the opportunity to defend his belt in front of millions, he is a testament to what hard work can bring you in such an unforgiving sport. A young boy hitting a heavy bag under a mango tree has found his way to the world stage and at only the tender age of 26, everything from here on out is a stepping stone past the first ravenous creek.