Vengeful eyes

The prospects of squaring off with his tormentor is giving Melvin Jerusalem an adrenaline rush like no other.

“Just thinking about it pumps me up,” Jerusalem told DAILY TRIBUNE when asked about facing Puerto Rican two-belt holder Oscar Collazo in a rematch early next year.

Fresh from retaining the World Boxing Council (WBC) strawweight title for the third time with a unanimous decision over Siyakholwa Kuse of South Africa, Jerusalem insists a second meeting with Collazo is what he truly desires right now.

“I really hope it happens because I know that this time, I will be much prepared unlike the last time,” Jerusalem said.

In May 2023, Jerusalem, during his first time as world champion, retired on his stool in the eight round in Indio, California, handing the World Boxing Organization (WBO) title to Collazo on a silver platter.

Since that sad defeat, Jerusalem has stormed back and didn’t juts become a champion again but a much better fighter.

“In our first fight, I was still jet-lagged because I arrived in the US just nine days before the fight,” said Jerusalem, who was a first-timer in America.

True enough, the lack of sleep and time to get used to the local conditions showed its ill effects.

And what motivates Jerusalem to get another chance at Collazo is one thing that makes a fighter extremely dangerous.

“I would love to get back at him,” he added.

Collazo, who has also added the World Boxing Association jewels to his collection, has vowed to become undisputed champion in 2026.

Also on Collazo’s radar screen is Pedro Taduran, who, like Jerusalem, is coming off a title defense win.

Taduran has the International Boxing Federation strap, and is also keen on battling Collazo after repulsing compatriot Christian Balunan last 26 June.