Mouthwatering matchup

World Boxing Council (WBC) strawweight champion Melvin Jerusalem won’t return to the ring anytime soon even if he gets called out by Puerto Rican two-belt titleholder Oscar Collazo.

Reports from Puerto Rico say that Collazo, who holds the World Boxing Organization (WBO) and World Boxing Association (WBA) minimumweight champion is eyeing a fight in February 2026.

The unbeaten Collazo has yet to announce who is he going up against but given his desire to unify all the straps in the 105-pound class, he will either look to sign up Jerusalem or Pedro Taduran, the International Boxing Federation (IBF) ruler.

But at this point in time, Jerusalem has ruled himself out.

“It’s already January,” said Jerusalem, who made the third defense of the title by beating South African Siyakholwa Kuse last 29 October.

“I have spoken with my team and February is just too soon,” said Jerusalem, who insists that he would love to be at his very best when he attempts to face Collazo.

More than two years ago in California, Jerusalem, then the WBO champion, met Collazo and paid dearly for arriving in the US ten days before the fight.

Collazo forced him to quit on his stool.

Since stopping Jerusalem, Collazo has racked up smashing wins over two other Filipinos Garen Diagan and Jayson Vayson.

Parading a 13-0-0 win-loss-draw record with ten knockouts, Collazo fights out of the Oscar de la Hoya-owned Golden Boy Promotions.

Jerusalem swears that he won’t rush into a Collazo clash for the sake of getting a chance to become an undisputed champion.

“I have learned a lot and when I get the opportunity to meet him again, I will make sure that I will be in top condition,” said Jerusalem, who is attending the WBC Convention in Bangkok.

While Jerusalem is on a short break from training, Taduran is back in the gym sweating it out.

Like Jerusalem, Taduran is fresh from making a successful defense of his IBF crown, having beaten compatriot Christian Balunan in 12 rounds three days before Jerusalem took on Kuse.

Now that Jerusalem has ruled himself out, Taduran looks poised to get picked and imported to Puerto Rico in February.

The ball is now on Collazo’s court to make the all-southpaw fight happen.

“Let’s do it,” Taduran said.