Amid the holiday rush, Filipino promoter JC Mananquil is plotting a few major steps meant to kick off 2025 with a big bang.

First on the agenda is the training camp of World Boxing Council (WBC) minimumweight champion Melvin Jerusalem, whose second defense of the 105-lb crown against Yudai Shigeoka is penciled for March in Japan, which is actually a rematch of their first encounter in Nagoya narrowly won by the Filipino.

“He’s in General Santos right now doing light training right but will be back in Cebu early next week where we would know how his actual camp will look like,” Mananquil added.

Even the champion’s lead trainer Michael Domingo is keenly awaiting the arrival of his prized ward as he looks forward to a tough duel with Shigeoka.

Jerusalem had a terrific 2024 as he made a mandatory defense in September, dealing Mexican Luis Castillo a beating in Mandaluyong City.

He and Taduran were the brightest lights that shone during the year but Jerusalem had the edge as he came up with one big successful defense while Taduran’s planned first defense was scrapped.

Jerusalem also personally accepted a reward a few weeks ago when he attended the WBC convention in Hamburg, Germany.