ANCAJAS IS UNCLE OF MAYOR SARA DUTERTE

RELATIVES. Davao City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio (extreme right) receives a pair of gloves with signatures of IBF world super flyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas turned over by GAB Commissioner Mar Masanguid. (Photo by LITO DELOS REYES)

By LITO DELOS REYES

INTERNATIONAL Boxing Federation (IBF) World super flyweight champion Jerwin “Pretty Boy” Ancajas and the mother of Davao City Mayor Sara Zimmerman Duterte-Carpio are cousins.
This was revealed by Mayor Sara during the courtesy call of Ancajas today (Feb. 23) at the City Mayor’s Office.
“My mother (Elizabeth Zimmerman) is an Ancajas from Padada and Jerwin’s father (Cesar Ancajas) is also from Padada,” said the daughter of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.
Ancajas also confirmed it and said that his grandfather and the mayor’s grandfather are relatives in Padada, Davao del Sur.
“Bale cousins kayo ni Mama ko,” said Duterte-Carpio, who received a pair of boxing gloves with signatures of Ancajas.
The 26-year old Ancajas, who was accompanied by his trainer-manager Joven Jimenez and Games and Amusements Board (GAB) Commissioner Mar Masanguid at the City Mayor’s Office, likewise was also given a token by Duterte.
Duterte said that she is ready to give assistance anytime to Ancajas, who started as an amateur boxer at the Almendras gym at the age of nine years old in 2000.
Ancajas, however, transferred to Panabo City to continue his boxing career after the untimely death of City Councilor Cornelio “Bing” Reta III, president of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) Davao Chapter.
At the age of 11, Ancajas won his first gold medal in the 28 kg. category and was adjuged as the Best Boxer in the 2004 National Youth tournament held in Panabo. He later captured the gold medal in the 48 kg. division in the 2008 Palarong Pambansa held in Palawan. Ancajas also took the gold in the same year in the National Youth held in Iloilo.
The following year, Ancajas turned professional at the age of only 17years old under American manager Kenny Smith in Digos City. After scoring three straight wins, Ancajas went to Jimenez Stable.
“We will resume our training next week for a possible fight in April,” said Jimenez.