Although Alejandro Santiago Barrios doesn’t look like a big threat, world champion Jerwin Ancajas will still have to exert effort to score a dominant win against the Mexican challenger.

“He cannot be overconfident. Santiago is supposed to be just a tuneup for bigger fights ahead, a chance for Ancajas to fine-tune his skills. But the kid Santiago is hungry for a world title,” said fight analyst Ed Tolentino.

Barrios may be 4 inches shorter than the 5-foot-6 Ancajas, but Tolentino said the Mexican fighter is quick on his feet.

“Santiago is small and is a mover, one who loves to throw the left jab-right straight combo and then step away. He is small, so he loves to dart in and out. Ancajas will have to chase him, work on pinning him on the ropes. He must be in shape,” said Tolentino.

In order to immobilize a mover such as Barrios, Ancajas will have to implement one of his potent weapons: his body punches.

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“The idea is to slow down Santiago. When you chase a car, you zero in on its wheels to slow the car down. That is how I see the strategy for Jerwin,” explained the analyst. “Once Santiago is stationary, then give him the parking ticket, err, the solid shots upstairs.”

Ancajas will be making his sixth world junior bantamweight title defense against barrios.

The bout will take place on Friday (Saturday, Manila time) at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California which is the home of the Golden State Warriors.

Tolentino said that if Ancajas’ times it right, he might score a stoppage over Barrios.

“Because he is a small fighter, with a short reach, he has to ‘leap’ into his foe and throw wide punches. If Jerwin is patient, he can counter with a good hook and catch Santiago coming in with his defense wide open. Santiago is slow to backpedal and he can be caught with a good counter,” he said.

“He has never faced a guy like Ancajas who is a good finisher.”

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