MELVIN Jerusalem is now in Los Angeles, more than a week before he stakes his WBO mini-flyweight title against Oscar Collazo of Puerto Rico.
The 29-year-old Filipino arrived in the US on Thursday accompanied by his compact entourage led by trainer Michael Domingo.
Jerusalem will be making a mandatory defense of the crown he won last January with a second-round TKO of Japanese Masataka Taniguchi in Osaka.
READ: Jerusalem wrests title after KO of Taniguchi
The 12-round bout is set at the Fantasy Springs Casino in California.
Jerusalem comes into the fight brimming with tons of experience against the 26-year-old Collazo, who is only fighting in his seventh pro bout.
The Puerto Rican sports a 6-0 record, with four coming by way of knockouts.
A Pan American Games gold medalist in 2019, Collazo’s victories include a unanimous decision against Filipino former world champion Vic Saludar in California last year.
His last fight in January of this year ended in a fifth-round knockout of Yudel Reyes.
Jerusalem meanwhile, carries a 20-2 record, with 12 KOs.
Fighting out of Sanman Boxing owned by JC Mananquil, Jerusalem is fighting in the US for the first time.
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