There's renewed excitement in the boxing world as WBC minimumweight champion Melvin Jerusalem is set to defend his title for the second time in a rematch against Japan's rising star, Yudai Shigeoka, on March 30 at the Aichi Sky Expo in Tokoname, Japan. This much-anticipated bout promises to be a thrilling chapter in the minimumweight division's evolving story.
In their first encounter back in March 2024, Jerusalem showcased dropped Shigeoka twice en route to a split-decision victory that crowned him champion. He built on that success with a dominant unanimous decision win over the unbeaten Mexican Luis Castillo in September, proving he’s a force to be reckoned with when the stakes are high.
Jerusalem isn’t a stranger to making waves on Japanese soil. Just last year, he stunned the local fans by stopping Masataka Taniguchi in the second round to capture the WBO version of the minimumweight title, although he later lost that belt in his first defense to the formidable Oscar Collazo.
On the other side of the ring, Japan’s Shigeoka, 27, has rapidly ascended the ranks, winning the WBC title in only his eighth professional fight with a clear decision win over Thailand’s Panya Pradabsri in October 2023. With Pradabsri now holding the WBC light-flyweight title, Shigeoka’s potential and ambition have set the stage for an exciting clash. A win for either fighter could open the door to a unification bout with either Pedro Taduran or Collazo.
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Image Credit: Kyodo