The World Boxing Council (WBC) leadership lauded Filipino champion Melvin Jerusalem for retaining the straw-weight crown last week in Tokoname, Japan.

No less than Mauricio Sulaiman, the governing body’s president, sent Jerusalem a formal correspondence following the lopsided 12-round decision over Yudai Shigeoka at the Aichi Sky Expo last 30 March.

“Congratulations on your victory,” Sulaiman wrote as a response to Jerusalem’s second defense of the title had won from Shigeoka on a split decision last year in Nagoya.

“It was great to see the way you defended your world title last March 30th in Aichi, Japan; we are very proud of you as you fought wisely and got the successful result,” Sulaiman, whose late father Don Jose, was the WBC’s longest-serving president, said.

“You proudly showed the world that you are willing to give to defend your belt. We really appreciate your loyalty to our green and gold WBC belt.”

The straw-weight class has a limit of 105 pounds and was the division of some of Mexico’s grandest champions, including Ricardo Lopez, who defended it a record-breaking 21 times from 1990 to 1998.

Jerusalem, promoted by JC Mananquil’s Sanman Boxing, is eyeing a unification showdown with Puerto Rican Oscar Collazo, holder of the World Boxing Association and World Boxing Organization belts.