Jerusalem Eyes Repeat, Yudai Shigeoka Seeks Redemption in WBC 105 Lbs Title Rematch
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 14 Feb 2025
Filipino titleholder Melvin Jerusalem is eyeing a repeat while Japanese ex titlist Yudai Shigeoka is seeking redemption in their scheduled title rematch for the WBC minimumweight championship.
Jerusalem and Yudai will go at it again on March 30, 2025 at the Aichi Sky Expo in Takoname, Japan wrapping up first quarter of world title boxing in Japan.
Jerusalem wrested the WBC crown from Shigeoka via 12 round split decision spiked by two knockdowns over the Japanese in Tokyo in March last year.
Yudai and his younger brother Ginjiro Shigeoka were two of Japan's highly profiled boxers who won the world minimumweight titles simultaneously in 2023 after raking up series of impressive victories over noted fighters. They were expected to have lengthy title reigns in the tradition of renowned old champions as Yoko Gushiken.
However Yudai lost his WBC title to Jerusalem then Ginjiro ceded his IBF belt in a more gory way being stopped by another Filipino ex titlist Pedro Taduran in July of last year.
Yudai is seeking to be the first of the fighting brothers to gain redemption by regaining the WBC crown from Jerusalem. He indicated this resolve by holding his initial training in the Philippines and sparring against some of the tough Filipino fighters in and around the weight class.
Jerusalem has initially defended the WBC title by unanimous decision over Mexican mandatory challenger Luis Castillo on Manny Pacquiao's Blow by Blow televised boxing show last September. He has also expressed determination to keep the belt and stay champion for longer time after losing his WBO crown on his first defense abroad against Oscar Collazo.
The sensational Puerto Rican now holds both the WBO and WBA belts having defrocked long reigning Thai titlist Panya Pradabsri also last year in a high profile fight in Saudi Arabia.
According to sources, there is a plan too to pit Ginjiro against Taduran in a title rematch next quarter in Japan. But that could change if Collazo moves up to light flyweight in pursuit of his previous victim Pradabsri who has won the WBC title vacated by Kenshiro Teraji. That would present Ginjiro another opportunity to become world champion again by vying for any of the world crowns to be left by Collazo.
The Jerusalem-Yudai rematch will cap a busy February-March fight schedule in Japan that will also feature Junto Nakatani's defense against Antonio Cuellar and two all Japanese world title bouts including a WBC-WBA unification between Teraji and Seigo Yuri Akui and Daigo Higa's renewed challenge for the WBA bantamweight title now held by Seiya Tsusumi.
Abangan ang mga aksyon...
The author Teodoro Medina Reynoso is a veteran boxing radio talk show host living in the Philippines. He can be reached at teddyreynoso@yahoo.com and by phone 09215309477.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Teodoro Medina Reynoso.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
OLYMPIC BOXING 4: 1924 OLYMPICS AT PARIS, FRANCE
By Maloney L. Samaco, Tue, 02 Dec 2025Cebuana Lhuillier-Backed UTP National Team Shines at 40th Penang Open, Captures Multiple Titles
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 02 Dec 2025WBC 63th Annual Convention Opens in Bangkok
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Tue, 02 Dec 2025Undefeated Brooklyn heavyweight prospect Pryce Taylor closing out a strong 2026
Tue, 02 Dec 2025USA Boxing Announces Partnership with Xempower USA
Tue, 02 Dec 2025THE RING 6: TEOFIMO-SHAKUR SET FOR JANUARY SHOWDOWN IN NEW YORK
Tue, 02 Dec 2025Undefeated Middleweight Dante Kirkman Set to Return December 11 in Costa Mesa
Tue, 02 Dec 2025Dejon Farrell Francis Turning Things Around
Tue, 02 Dec 2025WBC Light Heavyweight Champion David 'The Mexican Monster' Benavidez Excited About History-Making Cinco De Mayo Showdown with Gilberto Ramirez
Tue, 02 Dec 2025PPV.COM RETURNS TO THE RING LIVE STREAMING ALL-ACTION TITLE TILT ISAAC "PITBULL" CRUZ vs. LAMONT ROACH, JR
Tue, 02 Dec 2025Llover Eyes Winner of Salas-Ngexeke IBF Title Duel in Mexico
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Mon, 01 Dec 2025Jimuel draws in pro debut
By Joaquin Henson, Mon, 01 Dec 2025Kevin Durant sets new NBA record
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Mon, 01 Dec 2025LAZARO LORENZANA CAPTURES WBC REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE OVER LUIS ARIAS
Sun, 30 Nov 2025Paras fails bid for IBO world super fly title
By Lito delos Reyes, Sun, 30 Nov 2025