Filipino trainer Carl Penalosa Jr., brother of the legendary Penalosa brothers Dodie Boy and Gerry, believes Melvin Jerusalem will succeed in defending his World Boxing Council (WBC) minimumweight title against Yudai Shigeoka in a rematch on 30 March.
“He’s not going to beat Melvin,” Penalosa told DAILY TRIBUNE.
“Melvin has improved a lot. He’s gained more confidence,” he added.
Shigeoka spent two weeks in the Philippines and trained at the Elorde Sports Complex in Paranaque in January where Penalosa was hanging out daily as he trains Pedro Taduran, the other reigning Filipino world champion.
Jerusalem beat Shigeoka on a hairline spilt decision to win the WBC 105-lb belt in March last year in Nagoya.
In their second meeting, this time in Tokoname, a 30-minute land trip from Nagoya, Jerusalem plans to deliver a stoppage win in order to avoid a possible hometown decision.
He is neck-deep in training in Cebu City under another esteemed tactician Michael Domingo and is scheduled to arrive in Japan a week before the bout.