SPORTSCLOPEDIA 6: MELVIN JERUSALEM VOWS TO SEIZE WBO MINIMUMWEIGHT TITLE FROM MASATAKA TANIGUCHI
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 05 Jan 2023
Melvin “Gringo” Jerusalem vowed to do his best to wrest the world title when he faces reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) world minimumweight champion Masataka Taniguchi on January 6, 2023, at the Edion Arena in Osaka, Japan.
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Jerusalem, age 28, of Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, challenged WBC straw weight champion Wanheng Menayothin on January 25, 2017. Jerusalem was deducted a point in the eighth round for connecting a low blow and Menayothin won by a close unanimous decision. Without the point deduction, the bout would have been decided in a majority draw.
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After that first professional loss, Jerusalem fought Joey Canoy on the undercard of the "Pinoy Pride 41" on July 8, 2017. He lost the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 95–93, 95–93 and 96–92. In that match, Jerusalem was knocked down in the seventh round and was deducted a point in the eight round for several low blows.
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Jerusalem fought Jestoni Racoma at "Pinoy Pride 43" on November 25, 2017 and won by unanimous decision, 78–74, 80–72, 80–82. Then he faced Philip Luis Cuerdo on June 9, 2018, at "Pinoy Pride 44." He won the fight via an eight-round technical knockout.
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Jerusalem then defeated Toto Landero on November 10, 2018 by unanimous decision, 97–93, 98–92, 98-92. Next fight was against Reymark Taday on August 17, 2019 and Jerusalem won the fight by a seventh-round stoppage. Then Jerusalem stopped Jayson Francisco by a second-round knockout on December 17, 2020.
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Jerusalem again defeated Toto Landero for the vacant OPBF strawweight title on July 16, 2021, winning the rematch by unanimous decision, 118–110, 118-110, 116–112. Jerusalem beat Ramel Antaran on February 26, 2022 by unanimous decision, 79–73, 79-73, 77–75.
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Masataka Taniguchi, age 28, of Kobe, Japan, a southpaw, stands 5 ft 4 in (163 cm). He has 16 wins, 11 by KOs with 3 losses. Jerusalem is 5 ft 2 in (157 cm) and an orthodox fighter. He has 19 wins, 11 by KOs, with 2 losses.
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Taniguchi won the WBO mini-flyweight title by stopping Wilfredo Méndez of Puerto Rico via eleventh round TKO on December 14, 2021 at Ryōgoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, Japan.
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He defended his WBO title once by defeating countryman Kai Ishizawa via eleventh round TKO on April 22, 2022 at Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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