Pinoy boxer Melvin Jerusalem will look to keep his WBC minimumweight title as he faces Mexico's Luis Castillo in front of Filipino supporters at the Mandaluyong City College Gymnasium on Sunday.
World Boxing Council (WBC) minimumweight champion Melvin Jerusalem is set for his biggest fight yet as he faces undefeated Mexican boxer Luis Castillo on Sunday, September 22 at the Mandaluyong City College Gym.
The 30-year-old pride of Bukidnon has been given a relatively rare opportunity to defend his title in front of a home crowd of Filipino supporters.
Jerusalem is coming off his WBC title win last March, when he defeated Japan's Yudai Shigeoka in a split decision. This improved his record to 22-3 with 12 knockouts.
“Itong pagkakataon, ito na ‘yung time na matagal ko nang hinahangad na maging champion ulit at madepensahan ‘yung belt natin. Kaya sobrang laking pasasalamat ko sa lahat ng tumulong dito para matuloy ‘yung laban,” Jerusalem said during a press conference held by Manny Pacquiao's Blow by Blow Promotions.
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But a win won’t come easy for Jerusalem as he faces Castillo, who has yet to experience defeat in 21 fights.
Coming from Mexico, the 27-year-old boxer is confident he will bring the belt home in front of what is expected to be a hostile crowd.
“I know that he’s a strong fighter. He [Melvin] moves forward all the time, so we came very prepared with a lot of strategics,” Castillo said in Spanish.
“I feel fine, I feel strong. I know that it’s my first time to fight in the Philippines, but I like it, I feel fine. I will carry back this belt to Mexico, and it will be a great fight,” he added.
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This will be Jerusalem's second world title after winning the minimumweight belt's WBO version in January 2023 against another Japanese fighter, Masataka Taniguchi.
In May 2023, the Pinoy boxer failed to defend his WBO minimum flyweight title, losing in the seventh round against Oscar Collazo of Puerto Rico.
But this time around, Jerusalem wants to make sure that he will be keeping the belt in front of his fellow countrymen.
“Ito lang masasabi ko, handa akong itaya ‘yung sarili ko para sa bayan at ipanalo ‘yung laban. Naniniwala ako na hindi ako pabayaan ng Panginoon,” said Jerusalem.