Jerwin Ancajas got back on the winning track Saturday night after suffering back-to-back losses to Fernando Martinez.

The former IBF junior bantamweight champion beat up Colombian journeyman Wilner Soto until referee Charlie Fitch stopped their scheduled eight-round junior featherweight fight late in the fifth round at The Armory in Minneapolis. The Philippines’ Ancajas (34-3-2, 23 KOs) dropped Soto once apiece in the fourth and fifth rounds before Fitch halted the action on the Carlos Adames-Julian Williams undercard.

The 31-year-old Ancajas returned to the ring after an eight-month layoff two weight classes above the 115-pound division in which he was a long-reigning champion. He decisively lost his 12-round rematch to Martinez by unanimous decision October 8 at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.

Argentina’s Martinez (15-0, 8 KOs) is scheduled to defend his IBF belt against another Filipino fighter, mandatory challenger Jade Bornea (18-0, 12 KOs), in the opener of Showtime’s telecast Saturday night (9 p.m. EDT; 8 p.m. CDT). Showtime streamed Ancajas’ victory over Soto on its YouTube channel.

The 32-year-old Soto (22-13, 12 KOs) lost his seventh straight fight. He also lost inside the distance for the sixth time in his 10-year career.

The left-handed Ancajas viciously landed three body shots that made Soto take a knee with 21 seconds to go in the fifth round. Fitch immediately waved an end to their bout once Soto went down for the second time in as many rounds.

Ancajas connected with a left that wobbled Soto with 1:45 to go in the fifth round.

A left-right combination by Ancajas sent Soto to one knee with 1:01 to go in the fourth round. Ancajas caught Soto with a left hook that hurt him several seconds before that combination knocked him down.

Soto answered Fitch’s count quickly, but Ancajas allowed Soto time to recover.

An assertive Ancajas picked apart Soto throughout the third round, especially with hard body shots.

Ancajas nailed Soto with a straight left with about 40 seconds on the clock in the second round.

Ancajas caught Soto with a left to the body a few seconds before the opening round ended. Ancajas knocked Soto off balance with an overhand left with just under 20 seconds remaining in the first round.

Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for krikya360.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.