A rematch and unification bout with tormentor Oscar Collazo is among the options being considered by Sanman Promotions for newly-crowned WBC mini-flyweight champion Melvin Jerusalem.
Promoter JC Manangquil said Jerusalem has been yearning to get another shot at Collazo after the Puerto Rican fighter wrested the Filipino's WBO title last year in a seventh-round stoppage in their fight at Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, California.
“Kung may chance na mangyari yun, why not,” said Manangquil.
Jerusalem wants to get back at Collazo
“Gusto kong makabawi, Sayang yung belt,” Jerusalem seconded. “Sayang yun hindi tayo naka-depensa.”
The bout may just happen because, in a Facebook post, Collazo congratulated the Filipino world champion and said he was willing to face Jerusalem anew in a unification bout.
“Congrats champ, I’m ready for the unification. You wanted a rematch, let’s get it,” said the Puerto Rican.
Jerusalem was not focused against Collazo
Manangquil recalled the 30-year-old Jerusalem wasn’t fully focused on the bout, arriving in the US less than two weeks before the May 27 title fight for reasons not under his control.
“Late na siya dumating sa US kaya hindi siya 100 percent ready sa laban na yun. But no excuses for us,” said the Sanman Promotions CEO during their appearance in the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum Tuesday at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.
“Ang plano sana dun is a month and a half pupunta na sila, pero mga 9-10 days na lang (yung fight) nung dumating sila dun.”
But that's past already, said Manangquil. The loss somehow has been soothed by Jerusalem’s upset of Yudai Shikoega in Nagoya, Japan Sunday night to wrest the WBC 105lbs title via a split decision.
Jerusalem (22-3, 12 KOs) sent the Japanese reeling twice behind a pair of solid rights in the third and sixth rounds, which perhaps got him the nod from the other judges.
A rematch with Shikeoga is also being considered, although Manangquil made it clear there was no such clause included in the fight contract.
“May option yung promoter ng dating champion if they want a rematch,” he said.
But if the new champion would have his way, Jerusalem wants a unification bout and win more belts at the 105lbs division.
“Kung bibigyan ako ng chance, gusto ko makakuha pa ng maraming belts, unification talaga. Kasi pangarap ng mga boxer talaga na makuha yung four major belts,” said Jerusalem of his bid to become a unified or maybe the undisputed champion in the mini-flyweight class.
Everything, of course, would depend on the plans of Manangquil and his Japanese managers Nobuyuki and Mhavic Matsuura.
At present, Knockout CP Freshmart of Thailand is the long-time WBA champion and Yudai’s younger brother Ginjero Shigeoka owns the IBF title
Ginjero knocked out Filipino Jake Amparo in the second round to retain his crown in the co-featured title bout with the Jerusalem-Shigeoka championship showdown.
But while the future looks bright for the Filipino world champion, Manangquil said Jerusalem will have a well-deserved two-week break after a grueling training camp supervised by trainer Michael Domingo.
“Sa ngayon hayaan muna namin siyang mag-relax at mag-enjoy,” said the Sanman Promotions executive.
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