Melvin Jerusalem works the heavy bag. —DENISON REY A. DALUPANG
On a chilly Thursday morning in Bonifacio Global City, Melvin Jerusalem turned up the heat with a sharp, efficient workout. His punches were crisp, and his footwork deliberate, each step seemingly carrying purpose.
With his World Boxing Council minimumweight title on the line later this month in Tokoname, Japan, Jerusalem knows there’s little room for error—even against an opponent he has already conquered.
“We’ve been working on different techniques,” he told reporters in Filipino after an intense training session at Elite Boxing & Muay Thai Gym.
“They’ve been scouting my strengths, so we made sure I have options,” he added, referring to a left punch he has been honing in camp.
Jerusalem (23-3-0) will face Yudai Shigeoka (9-1-0) at Aichi Sky Expo on March 30, aiming for a more decisive victory this time.
While cautious about the rematch, the 31-year-old pride of Bukidnon remains confident that his conditioning has prepared him well for a showdown that could solidify his reign.
“I’m not overly confident because we know Shigeoka is skilled. Those brothers are,” he said, also referring to Ginjiro Shigeoka, the younger and more accomplished sibling.
“But I’ve already fought one in the ring. I’m familiar with his techniques, his style—even his weaknesses.”
Jerusalem dethroned Yudai Shigeoka a year ago in Japan, capturing the 105-lb belt via split decision—a result that has faced skepticism.
Despite that, the Filipino champion insists he feels no pressure to silence doubters. Instead, he focused on an all-out preparation alongside coach Michael Domingo, Sanman Promotions’ JC Manangquil and Zip’s Noboyuki Matsuura.
“We prepared well for this. We knew we’d be at a disadvantage if this went the distance, so we really worked hard,” he said.
Jerusalem, who aspires to become an undisputed champion, has long set his sights on a unification bout with Oscar Collazo, who stripped him of his World Boxing Organization title in 2023.
But he also knows there wouldn’t be any belts to unify if he doesn’t take care of business in the coming days.
“We’re focused on this one,” he said.
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Jerusalem is one of two Filipinos fighting for a title this month, the other being unbeaten bantamweight Kenneth Llover.
