Melvin Jerusalem pulled off a Mike Tyson-style training routine when he hosted an open media workout Thursday 10 days before he makes the second defense of the World Boxing Council (WBC) minimumweight crown in Japan.
After the usual round of workout staples, Jerusalem bent forward, placed his head upon the mat, arched his torso with his hands behind his legs spread apart.
He then moved his head sideways and in a circular motion, the same way Tyson did during his brief reign of terror in the 1980s and into the 1990s.
That same regimen is said to strengthen the neck to avoid getting a concussion and Jerusalem and his team believe they have to go the extra mile against challenger Yudai Shigeoka in their scheduled 12-rounder at the Aichi Sky Expo in Tokomane.
After the training session, Jerusalem expressed optimism that they have done everything to ensure that he answers the ball in fiery form for Shigeoka.
“We’ve done everything and trained long and hard because we expect a hard fight next week,” said Jerusalem, 30, who beat Shigeoka for the WBC 105-lb crown a year ago in Nagoya.
“We have covered all the bases,” echoed his promoter JC Mananquil, who will join lead trainer Michael Domingo in the corner on fight night.
Domingo said his fighter had a terrific cast of sparring partners and that the fruits of their labor will come out next week.
Jerusalem made a mandatory defense in September last year in home soil, clearly outclassing Luis Castillo of Mexico, who was knocked down in the first round and was on the receiving end of countless combinations from Jerusalem all night long.
Aware that Shigeoka is out for vengeance, the Bukidnon native insists he will be prepared for whatever the challenger is bringing to the table.
“We’ll be ready. I have full confidence in my preparation. Somebody told me that he will put pressure on me right away.”
Jerusalem swears it doesn’t bother him.
“Bring it on. Let’s go!”