Jerusalem’s buildup intensifies

Melvin Jerusalem’s training camp is on fire.

The reigning World Boxing Council (WBC) minimumweight champion sparred a total of 12 rounds on Saturday with two different sparmates at the ZIP Sanman training facility in Cebu City.

Even in the absence of a fight contract, Jerusalem is training like no other in the hopes of exacting payback against Puerto Rican Oscar Collazo in late March.

Collazo holds the World Boxing Organization and World Boxing Association straps, making his showdown with the Filipino a three-belt affair.

The official fight contract is going to be sent to Jerusalem’s camp any time, according to JC Mananquil, who promotes the Bukidnon-based champion.

Like Jerusalem, the southpaw Collazo is also neck-deep in training in Puerto Rico.

He has been in training mode since December.

Mananquil, alongside his Japanese partners, are of the belief that key to victory over the undefeated Collazo is to send Jerusalem to the United States a month before the scheduled match unlike in their first faceoff.

In May 2023, Jerusalem suffered a stoppage defeat to Collazo in Indio, California, and his late arrival proved crucial.

Jerusalem and lead trainer Michael Domingo landed in the US nine days before the fight.

“Not this time,” said Jerusalem, who is looking at a four-week stay in the US.