The World Boxing Council (WBC) is allowing minimumweight champion Melvin Jerusalem to make the second defense of his crown against anyone in the top 15 following the decision to pit former champion Yudai of Japan Shigeoka against Thammanoon Niyomtrong of Thailand in a title eliminator.

This was agreed upon during the ongoing 62nd WBC convention in Hamburg, Gremany, with president Mauricio Sulaiman ruling that the winner gets to fight for the title being the mandatory challenger.

Jerusalem, in the meantime, has the luxury of defending a choice challenger as he is coming off a mandatory defense — last September — against Mexican Luis Castillo.

JC Mananquil, who runs the WBC 105-lb champion’s affairs, told DAILY TRIBUNE that a Japanese promotional outfit holds the rights to the Filipino’s next fight.

Originally, the plan was to pair Jerusalem with Shigeoka in a rematch.

But following the recent convention ruling, Kameda Promotions will have to find a replacement for Shigeoka so it could exercise its option.

Mananquil said that such is a possibility “but the matter will have to be discussed first” with his promotional partner ZIP Boxing.

At the convention, Jerusalem is being accompanied by Japanese co-managers Noboyuki and Mhavic Matssura.

Likewise, Jerusalem was given a citation for his outstanding performance in 2024.

In March in Nagoya, Jerusalem floored Shigeoka twice en route to a split decision win.

Then six months later, he decked Castillo in the first round before coasting to a lopsided unanimous decision victory in Mandaluyong City.

Jerusalem is one of only two reigning world champions. The other is fellow 105-pounder Pedro Taduran, who holds the International Boxing Federation strap.