A YEAR after their first encounter, Melvin Jerusalem and Yudai Shigeoka will clash in the ring again for the WBC minimumweight title.
This time the role has been reversed, with the Filipino champion staking his 105lbs crown in the city of Tokoname in Japan.
The title fight is set March 30 or a day ahead from last year when Jerusalem dethroned the Japanese champion with a stunning split decision at the International Conference Hall in Nagoya, Japan.
Jerusalem knocked down Shigeoka twice on the way to the narrow win and the Japanese’s first professional career loss.
READ: Jerusalem beats Shigeoka for WBC title on Easter Sunday
Aware payback would be on the mind of the 27-year-old challenger, the top fighter of Sanman boxing vows to be better than the first time he fought Shigeoka.
“If I did good the last fight, I will do a lot better in the rematch,” said the champion, who sports a 23-3 record (12 KOs).
“I know he wants revenge and will change his fight plan, but I will adjust to his style.”
Jerusalem had a successful first defense of the WBC crown last September with a unanimous decision against tough Mexican challenger Luis Castillo.
It was the first career loss for Castillo, who never recovered after going down in the opening round.
The Filipino said he’s currently 95 percent condition with barely three weeks before the fight.
Jerusalem also assured his compatriots that he’ll return to the country with the WBC title belt still strapped on his waist.
“The WBC is my dream belt and no one is taking this away from me. I’m training hard with my trainer (Michael Domingo), and we are prepared,” he said, adding he’s sparred with good southpaw sparmates in Cebu.
Jerusalem is handled by manager Nobuyuki Mhavic Matsuura and promoted by Jim Claude Manangquil of Sanman.
Meanwhile, Shigeoka (9-1, 5 KOs) won his first fight following the loss against Jerusalem, scoring a unanimous decision against Filipino and former world title challenger Samuel Salva.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
