Shigeoka eyes Jerusalem rematch

Melvin Jerusalem is on a collision course with the very same Japanese fighter he defeated to become the World Boxing Council (WBC) minimumweight king.

JC Mananquil, who promotes Jerusalem, told DAILY TRIBUNE that Yudai Shigeoka and his camp have expressed the desire to face the Filipino in a rematch.

Last time they fought, Jerusalem floored Shigeoka twice en route to a split decision win in Nagoya.

In the event a rematch takes place, it will mostly likely happen in Osaka, according to Mananquil, who works with ZIP Boxing of Nagoya in promoting Jerusalem.

A few months ago, Jerusalem made a mandatory defense of the WBC 105-lb crown by soundly beating Mexican Luis Castillo during Manny Pacquiao Presents: Blow-By-Blow in Mandaluyong City.

Jerusalem scored a first-round knockdown en route to a lopsided unanimous decision win.

Jerusalem is expected to report back to training when he returns to the country from Europe.

Meanwhile, Jerusalem is on a break and is actually attending the 62nd WBC convention in Hamburg, Germany.

Among the Filipino delegates are Games and Amusements Board chairman Francisco Rivera, the husband and wife tandem of Johnny and Liza Elorde and son Mig Elorde, boxing referee Jerold Tomeldan and San Francisco-based judge Rey Danseco.

Mig, incidentally, is a member of the powerful WBC Ratings Committee, the only Filipino in the elite cast.