TWO Filipino boxers from Mindanao experienced contrasting fates on the international stage yesterday.

Long-reigning International Boxing Federation super flyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas apparently lost via unanimous decision to Argentinian challenger Fernando Martinez at the Cosmopolitan Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, February 26 (Sunday, February 27, Manila time) in his 10th title defense.

But the unheralded Vincent Astrolabio see III shocked the comeback Guillermo Rigondeaux, also by unanimous decision, to bring home the vacant WBC international bantamweight belt on Sunday, February 27 at the Dubai Marina.

“I’m still proud of Jerwin’s effort. Let’s bounce back champ to get the title again,” fellow marquee fighter from Zamboanga, Jonas Sultan said of Ancajas.

“It was a very exciting bout where Jerwin had tried to give his darndest best. I believe he would regain the title one day,” sympathized female pug Nesthy Petecio, Olympics silver medalist and Ancajas’ townmate in the Davao region.

Facing a fellow 30-year-old but two-and-a-half-inch shorter foe, the five-foot-five Ancajas’ effective jabs that brought him 33 wins, including 22 knockouts in 36 professional bouts could not work to his advantage this time around.

This, as the Argentinian looked sturdy and determined to land more punches en route to ending the Filipino’s almost a decade ring domination.

“Watching the fight, I was in tears to realize that Jerwin’s reign had finally come to an end. Martinez is good. They really fought a good fight,” said Princess Jenniel Marcial, the Kagay-anon retired boxer-wife of Olympics bronze winner Eumir of Zamboanga.

The stunning defeat at the hands of the still undefeated Martinez (14-0) had also eventually dashed Ancajas’ planned unification tiff with Japanese WBO titlist Kazuto Ioka.

Their supposedly New Year’s eve battle in Tokyo got stalled by the Covid-19 virus surge apparently triggered by the Omicron variant.

The General Santos City pride Astrolabio could not be denied, however, as he managed to cut the ring in overwhelming the constantly running Rigondeaux, even dropping the 41-year-old Cuban Olympian in the eighth round.

It was such a defining moment for the 24-year-old Astrolabio under the MP Promotion of Manny Pacquiao in besting Rigondeaux who once defeated Filipino great Nonito Donaire Jr.