THE Philippines has only two current world boxing champions. One of them will be stepping into the ring on Sunday, March 30, as Cebu City-based Melvin Jerusalem figures in a rematch with hometown bet Yudai Shigeoka in Tokoname, Aichi, Japan.

At stake in the fight is Jerusalem’s World Boxing Council (WBC) world minimumweight belt–the title that he stole from then defending champion Shigeoka via a split decision last March 13, 2024.

Meeting for the first time since their duel last March, the two fighters showed their readiness for the much-anticipated showdown when they showed up in the fight's weigh-in proceedings on Saturday, March 29.

Jerusalem came in at 105.05 pounds while Shigeoka weighed 104.61 lbs.

Owner of 23 wins, 12 by knockout, with three losses, Jerusalem had an extensive six-month training in Cebu and Manila, putting in an immense effort to prove that his previous win over Shigeoka was no fluke.

Jerusalem will come into the fight fresh from winning the “Co-Boxers of the Year” at the Elorde-Pacquiao Boxing Awards. The soft-spoken boxer shared the award with IBF world minimumweight champion Pedro Taduran, the other reigning Filipino world champion.

Shigeoka is expected to go all out to reclaim his belt. He will come into the fight with nine wins, five by KO and a single loss.(CCM)

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