WBC strawweight champion Melvin Jerusalem solidified his status atop the 105-pound division by decisively outpointing Japan’s Yudai Shigeoka in their rematch on Sunday. This second meeting in Osaka saw Jerusalem win more convincingly than in their razor-thin split decision last March. After dropping the first round while gauging Shigeoka’s approach, the Filipino fighter took control from the second stanza onward, vowing never to relinquish the belt he considers his dream title.
With the Shigeoka rivalry now resolved, Jerusalem has set his sights on avenging the only recent blemish on his record: a 2023 stoppage loss to unbeaten WBO titlist Oscar Collazo. Puerto Rico’s Collazo made quick work of Edwin Cano the night before Jerusalem’s victory, halting him in five rounds. Fresh off his own success, Collazo fired off a social media challenge, calling for a unification rematch with Jerusalem.
Promoter Jim Claude Manangquil confirmed that making Jerusalem-Collazo II is the next logical step, though formal talks have yet to begin. Collazo’s camp has been tight-lipped on the matter, but the mutual desire for a second fight suggests an eagerly anticipated collision between two of the best strawweights in the world could be on the horizon.
Melvin Jerusalem’s biography is available here.
Image Credit: DAZN