ARROYO TO ARRIVE AUG. 29, TITLE-FIGHT MOVED TO TAGUIG CITY

By LITO DELOS REYES

INTERNATIONAL Boxing Federation (IBF) World super flyweight champion McJoe Arroyo and his team will be arriving in Manila on August 29 to defend his title against Filipino challenger Jerwin “Pretty Boy”Ancajas.
The long-awaited 12-round championship fight will now be finally held on September 3 at 5 p.m. at the Philippine Navy Gymnasium Bonifacio Naval Station in Taguig City, Metro Manila.
“Matutuloy na talaga ang matagal na natin na hinihintay na laban nila Ancajas at Arroyo,” said Ancajas’ trainer Joven Jimenez in a text message.
The fight, billed as “At Last”, has been moved several times with the last time due to the reported injury of Arroyo.
“Ngayon wala na talaga silang lusot sa atin na labanan tayo,” said Jimenez.
Arroyo, who is still unbeaten with 17 straight wins, will arrive aboard Philippine Airlines at 4:30 a.m. together with his trainers Alexander Santos and Anthony Vidal.
Ancajas, on the other hand, is now already in Imus, Cavite after training for several months in Tanay, Rizal.
“Ancajas is already 95 percent ready and in good condition,” bared Jimenez.
The 24-year old native from Panabo City, Davao del Norte has a record of 24 wins with 16 knockouts against one loss and one draw.
“He is now already only maintaining his good condition,” Jimenez said.
The title-fight will be supervised by former GAB Commissioner Matthew Gaston, an IBF supervisor.
New GAB Chairman Abraham Khalil “Baham” Mitra is expected to grace the fight promoted by the MP Boxing Promotions of Sen. Manny Pacquiao.
Arroyo is also a former IBF Pan Pacific super flyweight, WBO Asia Pacific Youth super flyweight and Luzon Professional Boxing Association (LuzProBA) bantamweight champion.
In his last fight, Ancajas knocked out Paul Apolinario in 35 seconds of the first round at the Navy gym last November 13.
Arroyo has not seen action since he captured the vacant IBF world super flyweight title via a technical decision against another Filipino fighter Arthur “King” Villanueva last July 18, 2015 at the Haskins Convention Center in El Paso, Texas, USA.