Jerusalem prepares for decisive rematch in Japan

On a chilly Thursday morning in Bonifacio Global City, Melvin Jerusalem trained hard for his upcoming boxing match. He worked out efficiently, focusing on quick punches and precise footwork. Jerusalem will defend his World Boxing Council minimumweight title later this month in Tokoname, Japan. He understands he must perform well, especially since he has previously beaten his opponent. Jerusalem (23-3-0) is preparing to face Yudai Shigeoka (9-1-0) on March 30. He aims for a clearer victory this time, as their last match ended in a split decision. After an intense training session, he spoke to reporters in Filipino about the work he’s done on different techniques. He feels ready, but remains cautious since he knows Shigeoka is skilled. Jerusalem dethroned Shigeoka a year ago in Japan, but doubts linger about that narrow win. Despite this, he says he doesn’t feel pressured to prove himself. Instead, Jerusalem is focused on his preparation with coach Michael Domingo and his team. They’ve put in significant effort to ensure they are ready for any challenges during the match. Jerusalem hopes for a unification bout with Oscar Collazo in the future. However, he knows he must first succeed in his upcoming fight. He is one of two Filipino boxers fighting for a title this month, along with unbeaten bantamweight Kenneth Llover.