World champion Melvin Jerusalem and his crack Japanese sparmate pose after a great workout in Nagoya. PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF MELVIN JERUSALEM
BOXING

Jerusalem’s Japan training intensifies

Nick Giongco

Melvin Jerusalem has intensified his preparation in Japan by kicking off the sparring session as the Filipino braces for a tough challenge in his second defense of the World Boxing Council (WBC) minimumweight crown next month in Nagoya.

The Filipino champion is making the second defense of the WBC 105-lb throne against Yucai Shigeoka on 30 March at the Aichi Sky Expo in Tokoname, a one-hour drive from Nagoya.

In his last sparring, Jerusalem worked out with Japan’s light-flyweight champion. Also serving as a sparmate is SanMan Boxing stablemate Esneth Domingo.

He and Domingo arrived in Japan for a three-week pre-conditioning training last 1 February.

Last September in Mandaluyong City, Jerusalem soundly beat Mexico’s mandatory challenger Luis Castillo.

It was a trouble-free defense for Jerusalem, who knocked down Castillo in the first round and had him in trouble a few times.

Jerusalem is returning to the Philippines on 19 February to spend the main bulk of his training under longtime coach Michael Domingo in Cebu City.

A native of Manolo Fortich in Bukidnon, Jerusalem had won the title by defeating Shigeoka in March last year in Nagoya.

“They want to get the title back and that’s something I don’t like to happen,” said Jerusalem, who joins fellow 105-pounder Pedro Taduran as the country’s only two current world champions.