Champ’s camp

Melvin Jerusalem will spend a full month in Japan to work on his stamina and endurance as he braces for a tough third defense of his World Boxing Council (WBC) strawweight crown in late-October.

The Cebu-based fighter is being lined up to defend the WBC 195-pound title possibly against Mexican Daniel Valladares during the Thrilla in Manila golden anniversary taking place at the Araneta Coliseum.

Though the choice of opponent hasn’t been finalized yet, the 31-year-old Jerusalem is not leaving any stone unturned in his bid to put on a solid performance.

“Setting up camp in Japan for one month will be focused in building up stamina because of the great places to run,” he said.

Jerusalem beat Yudai Shigeoka in a rematch last March in Nagoya in his second defense and raised his win-loss-draw record to 24-3-0 with 12 knockouts.

Valladares, who has fought a few Filipinos, has a 39-4-1 mark with 18 knockouts. That lone draw came against Pedro Taduran, now the International Boxing Federation champion in this same weight class, just before the pandemic hit in 2020.

Representing JC Mananquil’s SanMan Boxing, Jerusalem will reside temporarily at his Japanese handlers’ home in Nagoya during his 30-day stay.

There is also a plan for Jerusalem to spend a week in Yokohama for sparring.

“I might also travel to the gym of Naoya Inoue (in Yokohama) for sparring with boxers there,” an obviously excited Jerusalem said.

The Bukidnon-born titleholder had won the WBC championship last year at Shigeoka’s expense on hostile ground.

In his first defense, Jerusalem easily defeated mandatory challenger Luis Castillo of Mexico in Mandaluyong City.

He and Taduran are the country’s only two reigning world champions.