SPORTS FACTS AND FIGURES 38: MELVIN JERUSALEM FIGHTS YUDAI SHIGEOKA FOR THE WBC MINIMUMWEIGHT TITLE
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 07 Feb 2024
Former world champion Melvin Jerusalem is ready to rumble as he is set to challenge the current World Boxing Council (WBC) world minimumweight champion Yudai Shigeoka on March 31.
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The title fight will happen in Nagoya, Japan, in a double-header world title event which includes Ginjiro, Shigeoka’s brother, who will defend his International Boxing Federation (IBF) world minimumweight title against another Filipino challenger Ar-Ar Andales.
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Gringo's world title bout was officially announced on Monday, February 5, via a Zoom teleconference participated in by both camps. Jerusalem shocked the boxing world on January 6 last year when he captured the World Boxing Organization (WBO) world minimumweight title. He ousted the then champion Masataka Taniguchi via a sensational first-round technical knockout win at Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, Japan.
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The 29-year-old Jerusalem, who fought out of ZIP Sanman Boxing Team, held the championship belt for five months until he was dethroned by Puerto Rican Oscar Collazo in May 27, 2023 at the Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, California, USA by a 7th round retirement.
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Even if he lost his title with a big loss, Jerusalem remained a highly-ranked world title contender, No. 5 WBO, No. 6 WBC, and No. 6 The Ring. He returned to the win column with a unanimous decision win last October 29 against Francis Jay Diaz in General Santos City.
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Jerusalem currently has a record of 21 wins, 12 knockouts, and three losses. He trains in Cebu City and in Japan under the watchful eyes of Michael Domingo.
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On the other hand, Shigeoka is undefeated in eight fights with five knockout wins. This will be his first title defense of the WBC world minimumweight title he grabbed from Thai Panya Pradabsri in Tokyo, Japan, last October 7.
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Anthony Davis got his third career triple double on Monday to contribute to the big performances from LeBron James and D’Angelo Russell as the Los Angeles Lakers won over the Hornets 124-118 at Charlotte.
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Russell scored 28 points, James added 26 and Davis commanded with 26 points, 15 rebounds and 11 assists as the Lakers completed a road trip with 4-2 record with the other wins at Boston, New York and Golden State.
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Sports History: February 6, 1967. Muhammad Ali dominated Ernie Terrell for 15 rounds to retain his world heavyweight boxing crown at Houston Astrodome. He won Terrell’s WBA belt also.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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