Melvin Jerusalem, one of just two reigning Filipino world boxing champions, was horsing around with his Japanese handlers in Nagoya when the DAILY TRIBUNE caught up with him on a lazy Sunday morning.

Just a day before, he had racked up six rounds of sparring — his fourth time since setting up a 19-day pre-conditioning training camp.

Since it was a rest day, the World Boxing Council (WBC) minimumweight king swore he had a mission to fulfill during his day-off from training.

“Maghahanap ng jowa (I will look for a girlfriend),” he said with a hearty laugh that was later drowned by the cheers and jeers of those with him in the background which included the husband and wife duo of Nobuyuki Matsuura and his Filipina wife Marivic.

But seriously, Jerusalem is in Japan to fulfill a mission.

On 30 March at the Aichi Sky Expo in the city of Tokoname, an hour’s drive from Nagoya, the 30-year-old Jerusalem will put the WBC 105-lb crown on the line when he battles Yudai Shigeoka in a rematch.

It was from Shigeoka that Jerusalem took the WBC title away from on 31 March last year in Nagoya on a split decision.

Since then, Jerusalem, a native of Manolo Fortich in Bukidnon, has defended the championship once.

Last September on home soil, he easily repulsed the mandatory challenge of Mexico’s Luis Castillo.

Jerusalem knocked down Castillo in the first round and then had him in trouble few more times in the succeeding rounds en route to a lopsided 12-round decision.

Since he will be facing off with Shigeoka on hostile ground, Jerusalem could not help but express concern over the scoring.

“Last time, I was fortunate to have been given the decision,” he said, noting that two knockdowns he scored proved to be the game changer.

When he squares off with Shigeoka again, the Filipino champion feels that he has to force a stoppage so the judging doesn’t get into play.

“We might not get the decision if it goes 12 rounds so I have to win convincingly. The best way to do just that is to win by knockout.”

Still, Jerusalem believes he could still win on points provided that he has to come up with a dominating performance so as not to leave any room for spotty officiating.

“If I can’t win by knockout, the next best thing to do is to be very dominant.”

And that’s exactly the mindset of Jerusalem and his team that is led by chief handler JC Mananquil and the Matsuuras as well as lead trainer Michael Domingo, who has finalized the remaining weeks of training in Cebu City.

“Everything is on the table from sparring and roadwork and gym training,” Jerusalem said.

When he arrives in the Queen City of the South this Wednesday, among those waiting to meet him on top of the ring are world-rated bangers Christian Araneta and Joey Canoy.

“My Cebu camp is ready.”

Meanwhile, Jerusalem will spend the remaining days doing strength and conditioning as he braces for a fiery fightback from Shigeoka.

“I know how Shigeoka feels right now. He wants the title back and I know I have to be at my best, I got to push myself to the limit because not only am I fighting on enemy territory, I am also up against a worthy challenger.”

Winning next month is vital for Jerusalem because that would mean that he will get to fight another day.

“Boxing is a short career. Anything can happen in a fight and one day you are on top of the world and the next day, you might be fighting for the last time.”

“I still have a lot of plans and one of them is to fight for the undisputed championship and become an undisputed champion.”

But Jerusalem knows the parameters.

“You won’t realize your dreams if you don’t work hard for it. Nothing comes easy.”

While the mood was light and bubbly during the onset of the conversation, the tone turned serious towards the end.

Jerusalem is aware that boxing is not a game.

It is a battle.