By the time Melvin Jerusalem shows up at the gym after the Lenten season, the reigning World Boxing Council (WBC) minimumweight champion would like to have an idea who he will be up against next.

Fresh from a convincing victory over Yudai Shigeoka in their rematch last Monday, Jerusalem is wishing and praying that his next fight would be a unification showdown with his one-time tormentor, the unbeaten Puerto Rican Oscar Collazo, holder of the World Boxing Organization (WBO) and World Boxing Association (WBA) straps.

In May 2023, Collazo forced Jerusalem, then the WBO champion, to quit on his stool in their clash in California.

Since then, Collazo has whipped a string of foes, including Thammanon Niyomtrong of Thailand, from whom he snatched the WBA belt from by knockout last year in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

“The plan is for me and Collazo to fight for three world titles in New York,” Jerusalem told DAILY TRIBUNE from Japan where he is on vacation following his recent win.

JC Mananquil, who promotes Jerusalem, said if a deal with Collazo can be made, the most likely date will be in July in the Big Apple where there is a large Puerto Rican population.

Meanwhile, Jerusalem is taking it nice and easy, a break he truly deserves, according to Mananquil.

“Just a short vacation and will be back in the gym soon,” said the 31-year-old Jerusalem, who was never in danger even once during his masterful unanimous decision win over Shigeoka at the Aichi Sky Expo in Tokomane.

Collazo, regarded as the best in the 105-lb division, holds a 12-0 record with nine knockouts.

While Collazo holds the WBA and WBO crowns and Jerusalem has the WBC, Pedro Taduran, another Filipino, has the International Boxing Federation jewels in his possession.