Fernando Martinez’s victory over Jerwin Ancajas in February obviously was no fluke,
The Argentine, who took Ancajas’ 115-pound title by a one-sided decision in a memorable brawl eight months ago, left the ring with the same result in their rematch on the Sebastian Fundora-Carlos Ocampo on Saturday in Carson, California.
The official scores were 119-109, 118-110 and 118-110. Boxing Junkie also scored it 118-110, 10 rounds to two.
“This was about validating the first fight,” Martinez said. “I trained very hard for this fight. I have a lot of people to thank and this is for my dad up in heaven.”
Ancajas (33-3-2, 22 KOs) had some success early in the fight by using fleet movement and his boxing skills to blunt Martinez’s relentless aggression.
However, by Round 4 or 5 he began to slow down and Martinez took over, outworking and outslugging his more-experienced Filipino opponent the rest of the way.
Hence the one-sided scores.
Martinez can now focus on the other junior bantamweight titleholders, Juan Francisco Estrada, Joshua Franco and Kazuto Ioka, or top contenders Jessie Rodriguez or Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez.
“It’s definitely harder to maintain the hunger and maintain the title but now we’re going after “Chocolatito” and everyone else in the division who’s in my way.”
Ancajas, 30, said he had trouble making 115 pounds for his first fight with Martinez. Perhaps that was a problem again for the rematch.
He’ll probably move up to 118 pounds for his next.