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Melvin Jerusalem and Sanman Promotions’ JC Mananquil. Handout/PSA

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Romwel Anzures

ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Melvin Jerusalem and Sanman Promotions’ JC Mananquil. Handout/PSA" src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1712054129624040224_Melvin Jerusalem.jpg" class="fr-fil fr-dib"/><figcaption>Melvin Jerusalem and Sanman Promotions’ JC Mananquil. Handout/PSA</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA — Melvin Jerusalem was successful in his recent bout in Japan and brought home the World Boxing Council minimumweight title to the country.The 30-year-old took down former champion Yudai Shigeoka via a split decision to dethrone his Japanese counterpart and hand him his first defeat in nine fights, and Jerusalem said that his patience during the match paid off for him. “Noong natapos na yung laban, parang panalo na nga yung nasa isip ko,” the newly crowned WBC minimumweight champion said during the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum on Tuesday in Manila.<ul class="op-related-articles"><li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/3/31/melvin-jerusalem-beats-japanese-foe-for-wbc-minimumweight-belt-032">READ: Melvin Jerusalem beats Japanese foe for WBC minimumweight belt</a></li></ul><div> </div>“Yung laban na yon, matagal namin yong pinagaralan. Muntikan ko na siyang nakuha sa first round, pero sabi nga ng coach ko relax lang muna kasi mahaba pa,” he added.Jerusalem was able to knock down Shigeoka twice in their fight — one came during the third frame and the other one in the sixth round — and this eventually allowed him to mirror his success in early 2023 wherein he scored a two-round victory over another Japanese in Masataka Taniguchi to earn the World Boxing Organization mini-flyweight crown in Osaka.This, according to his promoter JC Manangquil of SanMan Promotions, was a result of Jerusalem having some sort of familiarity with competing in the Land of the Rising Sun. “Medyo swerte siya sa Japan,” said Manangquil of Jerusalem, whose managers are Japanese Nobuyuki Matsuura and his Filipina wife Mhavic, and is coached by Melvin Domingo.“Lagi siyang sa Japan, and doon siya nagte-training lagi so very familiar siya sa Japan. Parang hometown niya na rin yun eh. Yung crowd, minsan pag dinig ko parang marami rin siyang fans,” he added.And now that Jerusalem is on a high especially since he scored a huge victory in Japan, he is raring to return to the ring to clinch more belts in his division.“Kung bibigyan ako ng chance, gusto ko makakuha pa ng maraming belts, unification talaga,” the Bukidnon native expressed. “Pangarap ng mga boxers talaga na makuha yung four major belts,” Jerusalem added as he looks to unify the titles or even become the undisputed titlist in his weight class.Manangquil, for his part, also shares the vision of Jerusalem.“A plan is we can do a title fight here, but if we can have a shot at a unification, another option din yun. The bigger fights, the better for Melvin yun,” he said, as they look to either do a title defense in the Philippines or a unification match later this year.The promoter from General Santos City also then that another fight with Shigeoka is a possibility despite their previous clash not actually having a rematch clause.“May option yung promoter ng dating champion if they want a rematch,” he claimed. In the meantime, however, their focus is getting Melvin his well-deserved and hard-earned rest. “As of now, hahayaan muna namin siya mag enjoy at mag relax,” said the SanMan executive of Jerusalem.

Melvin Jerusalem was successful in his recent bout in Japan and brought home the World Boxing Council minimumweight title to the country.

Melvin Jerusalem was successful in his recent bout in Japan and brought home the World Boxing Council minimumweight title to the country.

Boxing: What’s next for WBC champ Melvin Jerusalem?

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Boxing: What’s next for WBC champ Melvin Jerusalem?

Romwel Anzures,

ABS-CBN News

Published Apr 02, 2024 06:49 PM PHT

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ABSSports

Boxing

Melvin Jerusalem

Yudai Shigeoka

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