| |
|
Jerusalem due for title defense
By Joaquin Henson PhilBoxing.com Wed, 26 Jun 2024

The country’s only reigning world boxing champion Melvin Jerusalem is mandated to stake his WBC minimumweight crown against No. 1 contender Luis Castillo of Mexico and MP Promotions head Sean Gibbons said yesterday he’s moving mountains to set the defense tentatively on Sept. 7 in Manila or General Santos City or Masbate or anywhere in the Philippines.
Jerusalem was in Masbate to witness the second edition of Gov. Antonio Kho’s “Bakbakan” series last weekend and said the other option is to face Castillo in Mexico. “Bahala is Sir Sean,” said Jerusalem. “Lalaban ako kung saan man pero maganda kung sa bansa natin.” Gibbons flew in from Las Vegas to attend Gov. Kho’s boxing card and met with Jerusalem and his promoter JC Manangquil of SanMan Promotions and managers Japanese businessman Nobuyuki Matsuura and his Filipina wife Mhavic who were all in Masbate.
Gibbons flew from Masbate to Manila to General Santos City to confer with Manny Pacquiao on the possibility of staging Jerusalem’s defense at home. Gibbons declined to disclose the budget for the boxers’ purses but said the amount is manageable. “I hope to discuss it with Senator Manny who’s busy training for his three-round fight in Japan on July 28,” said Gibbons. “Melvin’s the only world champion we’ve got and for his mandatory defense, we’d prefer it not to be in Mexico.”
Castillo, nicknamed Flechita (little arrow), is an unbeaten southpaw with a 21-0-1 record, including 13 KOs. The 26-year-old Los Mochis, Sinaloa, fighter has never seen action outside of Mexico. Of his 13 KOs, 12 came within three rounds. Jerusalem, 30, has a 22-3 record, with 12 KOs. He scored a split 12-round decision over Yudai Shigeoka to wrest the WBC crown in Nagoya last March. Jerusalem decked Shigeoka in rounds three and six to punctuate the win.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Takuma Inoue World Champion Again; Beats Nasukawa for Vacant WBC Belt By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Wed, 26 Nov 2025OLYMPIC BOXING 3: 1920 OLYMPIC GAMES AT ANTWERP, BELGIUM By Maloney L. Samaco, , Wed, 26 Nov 2025Badenas TKO’s Saknosiwi in 10th round By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 26 Nov 2025Las Vegas & California Amateurs Shine in a Powerful Fall Rumble Weekend Followed by a Heartfelt Turkey Drive for Local Families , Wed, 26 Nov 2025Santa Run Davao on December 14 at NCCC Mall Victoria Plaza By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 26 Nov 2025Alec “The Rock” Del Rio Fights for WBC Asia Title Friday in Thailand By Carlos Costa, , Tue, 25 Nov 2025Eumir, Weljohn put pros on hold By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 25 Nov 2025Toronto Topples Cleveland, 110-99 for 8th Straight Win; Holds on to 2nd in the East By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Tue, 25 Nov 2025PPP Seniors & PWD Fun Run 2025 on Dec. 13 in Talomo By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 25 Nov 2025MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS ANNOUNCES A FULL SELLOUT AND BROADCAST DETAILS AHEAD OF U.S. DEBUT EVENT THIS SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, AT PECHANGA RESORT CASINO IN TEMECULA, CALIF. , Tue, 25 Nov 2025Tomorrow Night's CB Promotions Card at The Cure Insurance Arena in Trenton is Postponed , Tue, 25 Nov 2025PHL bids to host WB Congress By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 25 Nov 2025Joel "Lethal" Lewis talks boxing evolution and upcoming Thunderdome 52 fight this Friday in Perth , Tue, 25 Nov 2025Granite Chin Promotions signs Milton pro boxer Jenn Perella , Tue, 25 Nov 2025Mabuhay at Salamat: ‘The Thirty’ Filipino Boxers Who Became Giants By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Mon, 24 Nov 2025World-ranked Lightweight Dynamo Justin Pauldo Collides with Hard-punching Nike Theran , Mon, 24 Nov 2025Fastest Pinay in IronMan 70.3 World comes from Lanao del Norte By Kim delos Reyes-Teves, , Mon, 24 Nov 2025Two-time middleweight world champion Gennadiy Golovkin confirmed as new President of World Boxing at Congress 2025 in Rome , Mon, 24 Nov 2025Panama City will host the World Boxing Ordinary Congress in 2026 By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Mon, 24 Nov 2025Tadlas, Busayong rule 42K in 3rd SDSPPO Run for a Cause By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 24 Nov 2025"The Mexican Monster" Terrorizes the 175: Benavidez Demolishes Yarde to Win WBC Light Heavyweight Title By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 23 Nov 2025Harden scores 55 points for a new LA Clippers record By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 23 Nov 2025Devin Haney Dominates Brian Norman Jr. to Claim WBO Welterweight Title By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 23 Nov 2025"Bam" Rodriguez Stops "Puma" Martínez in 10 By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 23 Nov 2025Abdullah Mason Edges Sam Noakes in War, Becomes Youngest Current World Champion By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 23 Nov 2025 |

|
|
|
|
|