Melvin Jerusalem has intensified his preparation in Japan by kicking off the sparring session as the Filipino braces for a tough challenge in his second defense of the World Boxing Council (WBC) minimumweight crown next month in Nagoya.

The Filipino champion is making the second defense of the WBC 105-lb throne against Yucai Shigeoka on 30 March at the Aichi Sky Expo in Tokoname, a one-hour drive from Nagoya.

In his last sparring, Jerusalem worked out with Japan’s light-flyweight champion. Also serving as a sparmate is SanMan Boxing stablemate Esneth Domingo.

He and Domingo arrived in Japan for a three-week pre-conditioning training last 1 February.

Last September in Mandaluyong City, Jerusalem soundly beat Mexico’s mandatory challenger Luis Castillo.

It was a trouble-free defense for Jerusalem, who knocked down Castillo in the first round and had him in trouble a few times.

Jerusalem is returning to the Philippines on 19 February to spend the main bulk of his training under longtime coach Michael Domingo in Cebu City.

A native of Manolo Fortich in Bukidnon, Jerusalem had won the title by defeating Shigeoka in March last year in Nagoya.

“They want to get the title back and that’s something I don’t like to happen,” said Jerusalem, who joins fellow 105-pounder Pedro Taduran as the country’s only two current world champions.