TRAINER: JERUSALEM HAS MORE THAN EVEN CHANCE OF DETRHONING THAI CHAMP

CEBU ? On the eve of their departure for Thailand where young Filipino contender Melvin 'Gringo' Jerusalem will challenge Thai WBC minimumweight world champion Wanheng Menayothin, former world title challenger Michael Domingo, who has trained Jerusalem since the Bukidnon native turned pro in July, 2014, said that Jerusalem has more than an even chance of dethroning the Thai champ.

The fight will take place on Wednesday next week, Jan. 25, in Phitsanulok, Thailand.

?It's 60-40 in favor of Gringo,? Domingo told the Cebu media who had a dinner send off for Jerusalem at the plush The Saloon Bar & Grill at the Sky Park at SM Seaside Thursday night.

Domingo, who fought and lost to Frederic Patrac of France for the vacant WBF world bantamweight title on Oct. 3, 2006 in France, said his assessment and confidence was based on what his ward had shown him during their extensive training routine the last couple of months and by reviewing the fight tapes of Menayothin who, although he has an undefeated record of 44 wins with 17 knockouts, ?has never really faced an elite fighter.?

Menayothin, whose birth name is Chayaphon Moonsri, won the title by stopping Mexican Oswaldo Novoa on Nov. 6, 2014 in Thailand. Novoa previously won the title from China's Chao Zhong Xiong. Menayothin went on to successfully defend the title from a list of lightly regarded fighters, Jeffrey Galero (Philippines), Jerry Tomogdan (Philippines), Young Gil Bae (Korea), Go Odaira (Japan) and Saul Juarez (Mexico). Juarez, who beat former world champion Adrian Hernandez twice, was only the most accomplished fighter in the list. Juarez however lost to Jerusalem's stablemate Milan Melindo in 2014.

Told that the Menayothin camp picked the No. 9 rated Jerusalem (11-0-0, 7KOs) for exactly the same reason being Jerusalem was also a lightly regarded contender, Domingo smiled and said, ?that's their big mistake.?

Melvin Jerusalem (C) with trainers Edito Villamor (L) and Michael Domingo (R) at The Saloon Bar & Grill at the Sky Park at SM Seaside in Cebu City Thursday night.

Menayothin, who has victimized 18 Filipinos, and Jerusalem have three common opponents in Jonathan Refugio, Crison Omayao and Florante Condes. Wanheng won over Refugio by 9th round TKO and won by decision over Omayao and Condes. Gringo stopped Omayao in the 2nd round and won by decision over Refugio and Condes.

As far as Jerusalem himself is concerned, he says, ?I will just fight my own fight? but conceded that ?stamina will play an important role in this fight.?

ALA Gym head trainer and matchmaker Edito Villamor for his part said that the minimumweight division is not very strong at the moment so ?Jerusalem has a very good chance of becoming a champion in the division? acknowledging the fact that Menayothin is not in the same league as legendary Thai champions Fahlan Sakkreerin, Pongsaklek Wonjongkam and Ratanapol sor Vorapin who reigned as IBF minimumweight world champion for 5 years and who defeated Villamor himself and former Filipino world champions Manny Melchor and Ronnie Magramo.

A win by Jerusalem over Menayothin would be similar to the feat achieved by Malcolm Tunacao in May, 2000 when, having only 10 professional fights in his ledger, he defeated Medgoen Singsurat inside Thailand to capture the WBC flyweight diadem. More importantly however, a win by Jerusalem will mark the first time that a Filipino has won the WBC world minimumweight title, a feat that had eluded Filipino fighters for decades.

In a historical perspective, Jerusalem's chances of defeating Menayothin is maybe only 22%. That's exactly the winning percentage of Filipinos fighting for world titles inside Thailand who accumulated a running scorecard of 10 wins, 2 draws and 31 losses in 44 contests since Bernabe Villacampo lost by decision to Chartchai Chionoi for the WBC world flyweight title on Nov. 10, 1968. And if Jerusalem would not be able to knock out Menayothin, his chances of winning becomes even smaller as only two fighters, Manny Melchor and Ronnie Magramo, won by decision in world title fights in Thailand.

Below is the list of Filipino world title fights in Thailand:

Wins (10):

July 27, 2016: Marlon Tapales KO 11 Pungluang Sor Singyu,WBO bantamweight

Mar 2, 2012: Sonny Boy Jaro TKO 6 Pongsaklek Wonjongkam, WBC flyweight

Nov 11, 2010: Drian Francisco TKO 10 Duangpetch Kokietgym, WBA interim super flyweight

May 19, 2000: Malcolm Tunacao TKO 7 Medgoen Singsurat, WBC flyweight

Dec 4, 1998: Manny Pacquiao KO 8 Chatchai Sasakul, WBC flyweight

Feb 19, 1995: Ronnie Magramo SD 12 Nungdiaw Sakcharuporn, WBF minimumweight

Jul 9, 1994: Ronnie Magramo, TKO 12, Wanwin Charoen, WBF minimumweight

Sep 6, 1992: Manny Melchor SD 12 Fahlan Sakkreerin, IBF minimumweight

Oct 18, 1989: Luisito Espinosa KO 1 Khaokor Galaxy, WBA bantamweight

Dec 7, 1970: Erbito Salavarria TKO 2 Chartchai Chionoi, WBC flyweight title

Draws (2):

12/20/90: Pretty Boy Lucas PTS 12 Fahlan Sakkreerin, IBF minimumweight

05/02/89: Tacy Macalos SD 12 Muangchai Kittikasem, IBF light flyweight

Losses (31):

02/12/16: Jetro Pabustan TD 7 Pungluang Sor Singyu, WBO bantamweight

06/27/15: John Riel Casimero UD 12 Amnat Ruenroeng, IBF flyweight

06/02/15: Jerry Tomogdan KO 9 Wanheng Menayothin, WBC minimumweight

02/05/15: Jeffrey Galero UD 12 Wanheng Menayothin, WBC minimumweight

01/22/14: Rocky Fuentes UD 12 Amnat Ruenroeng, IBF flyweight

05/03/12: Jonathan Taconing TD 5 Suriyan Satorn, WBC light flyweight

05/01/11: Drian Francisco UD 12 Panthep Mullipoom, WBA interim super flyweight

06/05/03: Randy Mangubat UD 12 Pongsaklek Wonjongkam,WBC flyweight

03/02/01: Malcolm Tunacao KO 1 Pongsaklek Wonjongkam, WBC flyweight

09/17/99: Manny Pacquiao UD 12 Medgoen Singsurat, WBC flyweight

02/20/99: Joma Gamboa UD 12 Pichit Chor Siriwat, WBA light flyweight

01/30/99: Ronnie Magramo TD 8 Songkram Porpaoin, WBA interim minimumweight

09/29/96: Ronnie Magramo PTS 12 Fahsang Pongsawang, WBF minimumweight

07/13/96: Jun Orhaliza KO 3 Ratanapol Sor Vorapin, IBF minimumweight

05/18/96: Jun Arlos UD 12 Ratanapol Sor Vorapin, IBF minimumweight

04/27/96: Joma Gamboa TKO 7 Saman Sorjaturong, WBC light flyweight

08/06/95: Ernesto Rubillar KO 6 Chana Porpaoin, WBA minimumweight

07/08/95: Ronnie Magramo PTS 12 Fahsang Pongsawang, WBF minimumweight

02/25/95: Jerry Pahayahay TKO 3 Ratanapol Sor Vorapin, IBF minimumweight

05/14/94: Roger Espanola TKO 6 Ratanapol Sor Vorapin, IBF minimumweight

02/27/94: Ronnie Magramo UD 12 Ratanapol Sor Vorapin, IBF minimumweight

08/22/93: Ronnie Magramo UD 12 Chana Porpaoin, WBA minimumweight

06/27/93: Ala Villamor TKO 7 Ratanapol Sor Vorapin, IBF minimumweight

12/10/92: Manny Melchor SD 12 Ratanapol Sor Vorapin, IBF minimumweight

10/21/91: Andy Tabanas UD 12 Fahlan Sakkreerin, IBF minimumweight

02/22/90: Eric Chavez TKO 7 Fahlan Sakkreerin, IBF minimumweight

01/30/90: Ric Siodora UD 12 Sot Chitalada, WBC flyweight

10/06/89: Tacy Macalos TKO 7 Muangchai Kittikasem, IBF light flyweight

03/24/88: Pretty Boy Lucas TKO 11 Samuth Sithnaruepol, IBF minimumweight

02/09/73: Erbito Salavarria UD 15 Venice Borkhorsor, WBC flyweight

04/05/70: Bernabe Villacampo SD 15 Berkrerk Chartvanchai, WBA flyweight

11/10/68: Bernabe Villacampo UD 15 Chartchai Chionoi WBC flyweight