Ancajas Shines In Impressive Return, Bornea Falls Short In Title Challenge
4 min read
Jerwin Ancajas made a resounding comeback on Saturday night at the Minneapolis Armory in Minnesota, while Jade Bornea’s world title dreams were shattered in their respective bouts.
Ancajas, the former world super flyweight champion, displayed the form that propelled him to a reign of over five years in the division. Moving up to the super bantamweight division for the first time, Ancajas showcased his skills against Colombian journeyman Wilner Soto.
In a dominant performance, Ancajas unleashed a barrage of vicious body shots that led to a fifth-round stoppage. The referee intervened at the 2:41 mark of the fifth round, recognizing Soto’s inability to continue. Ancajas improved his record to 34-3-2 with 23 knockouts, while Soto suffered his seventh consecutive defeat, falling to 22-13 with 12 knockouts.
The victory marked a significant rebound for Ancajas, who had endured two consecutive losses to Argentina’s Fernando Martinez. Martinez ended Ancajas’ six-year reign as the IBF super flyweight champion in February 2022 and then defeated him again in their rematch eight months later.
Ancajas’ triumph over Soto sets the stage for a potential title fight against WBA bantamweight champion Takuma Inoue. To challenge Inoue, Ancajas will need to make the move down to 118 pounds, setting up an intriguing matchup against the younger brother of Naoya Inoue, one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the sport.
Meanwhile, Bornea’s quest for a world title ended in disappointment as he faced Martinez in a battle for the IBF junior bantamweight belt. Bornea, who had spent over a year training in the United States in preparation for this opportunity, encountered adversity in the form of a gruesome ear injury. In the ninth round, Bornea sustained a bloody cut on his right ear, which proved to be detrimental to his performance.
Martinez capitalized on the injury, targeting the vulnerable spot and ultimately securing a victory in the 11th round. The referee halted the contest just 29 seconds into the round, with Martinez leading on the scorecards 97-93 twice and 98-92. The defeat marked Bornea’s first loss in his professional career, bringing his record to 18-1 with 12 knockouts.
On the other hand, Martinez remained undefeated at 16-0 with 9 knockouts.
Looking ahead, Ancajas aims to continue his journey toward another world title by challenging Takuma Inoue. With Ancajas’ exceptional performance in his return, he appears poised for the next chapter in his career.
While Bornea may have suffered a setback, his determination and talent suggest he will recover from this defeat. Both fighters will continue to pursue their dreams of championship glory, showcasing their skills and resilience in the ring. The world of boxing eagerly awaits their next moves as they navigate the path to further success.
