Press Release
The 115-pound fighting pride of the Philippines, Jerwin “Pretty Boy” Ancajas, will make the eighth defense of his IBF junior bantamweight world title against Mexican contender Jonathan Rodriguez Saturday, November 2 at Dignity Health Sports Park. Ancajas-Rodriguez will serve as the co-feature to Miguel Berchelt’s WBC super featherweight title defense versus Jason Sosa, and both fights will be televised live on ESPN and ESPN Deportes (Spanish) starting at 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT.
The undercard will see the return of Oklahoma City’s Alex “El Cholo” Saucedo, who is looking to rebound from his first career defeat against Rod Salka in an eight-round super lightweight bout. Saucedo-Salka and the rest of the undercard will stream live on ESPN+ beginning at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT.
"I am looking forward to this fight because Rodriguez brings the Mexican style to his fights, and Mexican and Filipinos make the best fights," Ancajas said. "I want to thank Top Rank, Senator Manny Pacquiao and my manager, Joven Jimenez, for their continued support. It is going to be a war, and to my Filipino fans, I look forward to putting on a show for you in Carson."
"I plan on taking full advantage of this opportunity," Rodriguez said. "Ancajas is a great champion, but my time is now. It is time for a new face at 115 pounds."
Ancajas (31-1-1, 21 KOs) is one of boxing’s longest-reigning and most active champions, as only two current world champions (Deontay Wilder and Wanheng Menayothin) have more title defenses. The dynamic southpaw won the title in September 2016 and defended his belt three times apiece in 2017 and 2018. He last fought May 4 in Stockton, California, knocking out Ryuichi Funai in six rounds. This will be Ancajas’ fourth consecutive bout in California, but the first time he’s showcased his skills in Southern California. Rodriguez (21-1, 15 KOs) is a dangerous foe who has won five in a row since a split decision defeat spoiled his unbeaten record. He is coming off a career-best win June 7 in Zihuatanejo, Mexico, when he knocked out former two-time world title challenger Felipe Orucuta in the 10th round.
Saucedo (28-1, 18 KOs), who turned 25 years old in June, burst onto the world stage in 2018. He overcame cuts and a swollen face to knock out Lenny Zappavigna in front of his hometown fans at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in a Fight of the Year contender. He returned to the Chesapeake Energy Arena last November and was knocked out in seven rounds by Maurice Hooker in a failed bid for the WBO junior welterweight world title.
Saucedo regrouped and enlisted the services of a new trainer, Pedro Neme. Saucedo and Neme have been working together for the past four months and have focused on refining his defensive skills. Salka (24-5, 4 KOs) has not fought since an April 2018 knockout loss to former world champion Francisco Vargas, but before the Vargas defeat, he had won five in a row.
“I am excited to finally be back in the ring,” Saucedo said. “I enjoyed my time off, but the time was right to come back. I have a new team and can’t wait to show everyone the new Alex Saucedo. On November 2, I will steal the show.”
Jerwin Ancajas vs. Jonathan Rodriguez - November 2, 2019 (Postponed)
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Re: Jerwin Ancajas vs. Jonathan Rodriguez - November 2, 2019 (Postponed)
Visa snafu forces postponement of Jonathan Rodriguez's title challenge vs. Jerwin Ancajas
Top Rank Boxing announced Thursday that Mexico's Jonathan Rodriguez was unable to obtain a visa to enter the United States, which has caused the postponement of his bout against junior bantamweight world titlist Jerwin Ancajas on Saturday at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.
"This is a weird one because all of the paperwork was in," Carl Moretti, the director of boxing operations for Top Rank, told ESPN. "I think the mess up was that the visa that was sent, was sent to his home city and he was training in another part of Mexico, and that means you have to go through the whole process again. It just got confusing the whole week, and we played it out as long as we could."
Top Rank announced that the 10-round junior welterweight clash between Javier Molina and Hiroki Okada will now serve as the new co-main event of the Top Rank Boxing on ESPN card (ESPN and ESPN Deportes, 10:30 p.m. ET with preliminaries beginning on ESPN+ at 7:30 p.m. ET), which is headlined by the bout between WBC junior lightweight champion, Miguel Berchelt and Jason Sosa.
Moretti said the Ancajas-Rodriguez bout will be rescheduled or Ancajas (31-1-2, 21 KOs) will move onto some other fight. Ancajas, who was already in Southern California to prepare for his eighth junior bantamweight title defense, is coming off a sixth-round knockout of Ryuichi Funai on May 4.
"We're amenable to any opponent on any date, if it's Rodriguez, if he works out all his issues, or whoever comes up," said Sean Gibbons of Manny Pacquiao Promotions, which represents Ancajas.
Top Rank Boxing announced Thursday that Mexico's Jonathan Rodriguez was unable to obtain a visa to enter the United States, which has caused the postponement of his bout against junior bantamweight world titlist Jerwin Ancajas on Saturday at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.
"This is a weird one because all of the paperwork was in," Carl Moretti, the director of boxing operations for Top Rank, told ESPN. "I think the mess up was that the visa that was sent, was sent to his home city and he was training in another part of Mexico, and that means you have to go through the whole process again. It just got confusing the whole week, and we played it out as long as we could."
Top Rank announced that the 10-round junior welterweight clash between Javier Molina and Hiroki Okada will now serve as the new co-main event of the Top Rank Boxing on ESPN card (ESPN and ESPN Deportes, 10:30 p.m. ET with preliminaries beginning on ESPN+ at 7:30 p.m. ET), which is headlined by the bout between WBC junior lightweight champion, Miguel Berchelt and Jason Sosa.
Moretti said the Ancajas-Rodriguez bout will be rescheduled or Ancajas (31-1-2, 21 KOs) will move onto some other fight. Ancajas, who was already in Southern California to prepare for his eighth junior bantamweight title defense, is coming off a sixth-round knockout of Ryuichi Funai on May 4.
"We're amenable to any opponent on any date, if it's Rodriguez, if he works out all his issues, or whoever comes up," said Sean Gibbons of Manny Pacquiao Promotions, which represents Ancajas.