How did Manny Pacquiao’s protégé do in his world title defense in Fresno?

Boxing returned to the Save Mart Center on Saturday. Only this time it didn’t feature Avenal native and WBC super lightweight world champion Jose Ramirez.

Instead it was the first all-Filipino title fight in 93 years, and Jerwin Ancajas – Manny Pacquiao’s protégé – successfully defended his IBF junior bantamweight world championship with a unanimous 12-round decision over Jonas Sultan before 5,102 fans.

The bout didn't pack as much punch as some expected, though the last round had plenty of action by both fighters. Two judges scored the fight 119-109 and another 117-111.

The 26-year-old Ancajas, who is co-promoted by Top Rank and Pacquiao's MP Promotions, said it was "the best performance of my career.

"It is with great pride that I fought in such a historic fight.," he said. "I used my amateur experience and I was able to adjust as the fight went on."

Ramirez, who will defend his title against Danny O'Connor on July 7 at the Save Mart Center, watched from ringside.

"We know the Filipino fighters have the heart to win and the heart to fight for Manny Pacquiao," he said. "Every Filipino fighter has always brought it. I'm glad these type of fights are big.”

Fight card

Welterweights (10 rounds): Alexander Besputin (10-0, 8 KOs) wins by TKO over Saul Corral (27-12), 1:34 in third round.

Lightweight (4 rounds): Jose Salinas (5-0, 2 KOs) wins by TKO over Carlos Apodaca (2-10-2), 0:52 in second round.

Super featherweights (6 rounds): Bryan Lua (5-0, 2 KOs) wins by TKO over Francisco Camacho (5-8-1) in the third round. Time of the stoppage, 2:43.

Bantamweight (4 rounds): Manuel Manzo (3-6-1) wins by MD over Leonardo Reyes (7-16)

Super featherweight (4 rounds): Isidro Ochoa (5-0) wins by UD over Ricardo Arias (1-4-1).

Lightweights (4 rounds): Piotr Apostol wins by UD over Carlos Castillo (4-6).

Lightweights (8 rounds): John Moralde (20-1) wins by UD over Ismail Muwendo (19-1).

Super flyweight (12 rounds) – WBA world title: Khalid Yafai (24-0, 15 KOs) retains via KO over David Carmona (21-6-5), stopped before the eighth round.

Junior bantamweight (12 rounds) - IBF world title: Jerwin Ancajas (28-1-1-2) retains by UD over Jonas Sultan (14-4)

This story was originally published May 26, 2018 at 9:25 PM with the headline "How did Manny Pacquiao’s protégé do in his world title defense in Fresno?."