FAST-rising prospect Melvin Jerusalem jumped at the chance to become a world champion despite fighting in enemy territory against the best 105-pound fighter in the world, World Boxing Council (WBC) minimumweight titleholder Wanheng Menayothin.
?It will definitely be a tough fight for Melvin but it is a once in a lifetime chance to fight for a world title,? ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer told Sun.Star Cebu.
The 22-year-old Jerusalem trades leathers with Menayothin on Jan. 25 in Thailand.
Jerusalem learned that he was fighting for a world title just last December, when he was deep in training to fight in January.
?It came at the right time as we had plans for him supposedly in January,? said Aldeguer.
Jerusalem, 11-0 with seven knockouts, is coming off a unanimous decision win over battle-scarred veteran Fabio Marfa last Nov. 26 at the historic Cebu Coliseum.
?So far, so good. He?s getting stronger and is always focused on his training,? said Jerusalem?s coach Michael Domingo.
Jerusalem has been sparring with fellow prospects Christian Bacolod and Raul Yu. Domingo also tapped the services of some amateur pugs that will stimulate a runner and a slugger.
Menayothin is currently The Ring Magazine?s No. 1 rated minimumweight. The 31-year-old Thai has a very impressive 44-0 slate that includes 17 knockouts.
Menayothin won the WBC belt in 2014 after a stoppage win over Oswaldo Novoa. He has defended his crown five times, including wins over Filipino fighters Jeffrey Galero and Jerry Tomongdan.
But despite the Thai?s experience, Domingo still believes that Jerusalem may score an upset.
?He has a big chance. I have seen his opponent. He is not strong, we have an advantage in power. He has the advantage in experience but they have similar styles,? said Domingo.
Jersulem has already fought a very experienced former world champion in Florante Condes. He beat him by a majority decision.
With all the odds stacked up against him, with little or no chance at all of winning against a Thai world champion in Thailand, Domingo has one target for Jerusalem in this fight and that is to end it by knockout.
?We all know that if it goes the distance we will have a hard time winning. Melvin has power. He needs to dominate the opponent. Our chance is a knockout.?
