Melvin Jerusalem has made his identify in world title fights overseas. Now he lastly will get one at dwelling.
The Filipino highway warrior will make the primary protection of WBC strawweight title on September 22 when he faces necessary challenger Luis Castillo at Mandaluyong Metropolis Faculty Gymnasium in Metro Manila.
The 30-year-old Jerusalem (22-3, 12 knockouts) of Manolo Fortich in Bukidnon province, Philippines received the title in March, defeating Yudai Shigoeka by cut up determination in Japan, and is now in his second reign as champion. He received the WBO 105-pound title in January of 2023, defeating Masataka Taniguchi by second spherical stoppage, earlier than dropping it simply 4 months later by seventh spherical stoppage to Oscar Collazo.
Now, with hometown benefit for a change, Jerusalem is hoping to keep away from the primary protection jinx which befell him throughout his first reign.
“I’m very completely satisfied that I’ll defend my WBC belt proper right here in my hometown. I’ll do my greatest to defend the belt and I’ll give combat within the ring,” mentioned Jerusalem, who’s rated no. 3 by The Ring at 105 kilos whereas his opponent is rated no. 10.
“Castillo is a troublesome unbeaten Mexican. He is a good fighter and you recognize Mexicans all the time come and combat so it will likely be a enjoyable combat,” mentioned Jim Claude Manangquil, whose Sanman Boxing promotes Jerusalem.
“However Jerusalem’s expertise and proper hand shall be an excessive amount of for him.”
Castillo (21-0-1, 13 KOs) of Los Mochis, Mexico shall be preventing outdoors of his dwelling nation for the primary time in his ten yr profession. The 27-year-old, a southpaw like 4 of Jerusalem’s final 5 opponents, has fought few notable opponents to this point, with essentially the most noteworthy being former title challenger Abraham Rodriguez, whom Castillo stopped in six rounds in 2022. Castillo has not been notably lively lately, having not fought since his ten spherical unanimous determination win final November in opposition to Miguel Angel Herrera, which was his first combat for the reason that Rodriguez combat 15 months earlier.
“We’ve got already a sport plan for my opponent. He is an efficient and tall boxer, however that’s no downside as a result of I understand how to regulate within the combat,” mentioned Jerusalem, who’s skilled by former bantamweight contender Michael Domingo in Cebu province and is managed by Nobuyuki and Marivic Matsuura.
“We’re getting ready for this combat for what number of months and I’ll give all my greatest to this combat to defend my WBC belt.”
Manangquil credit Sean Gibbons of MP Promotions for serving to deliver the combat to the Philippines. He says Gibbons approached Manny Pacquiao about broadcasting the combat on his weekly boxing program, Manny Pacquiao Presents: Blow by Blow. The present can also be being sponsored by the Mandaluyong Metropolis authorities Mayor Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr., who’s making entrance for the present free to the general public, in addition to oil firm Petron.
“Manny mentioned he is not going to let Melvin go on the highway for his first protection. We thank Manny Pacquiao for all of this,” mentioned Manangquil.
World title fights within the Philippines are exceedingly uncommon as the tv and dwell gate market are often much more profitable. The final world title combat to happen within the Philippines was the IBF strawweight title combat between Pedro Taduran and Rene Mark Cuarto in February 2022, although there have been no spectators in attendance attributable to COVID-19 protocols. Previous to that, the final title combat within the Philippines was the vacant IBF junior flyweight title combat between Randy Petalcorin and Felix Alvarado in 2018.
The undercard is scheduled to function former IBF junior bantamweight titleholder Jerwin Ancajas (34-4-2, 23 KOs) in opposition to Sukpraserd Ponpitak (30-19, 20 KOs) of Thailand in a ten spherical bout, which shall be his first look since dropping his problem of WBA bantamweight titleholder Takuma Inoue by ninth spherical knockout in February.
Ryan Songalia has written for ESPN, the New York Every day Information, Rappler and The Guardian, and is a part of the Craig Newmark Graduate Faculty of Journalism Class of 2020. He could be reached at [email protected].
