It’s not often that you see a boxer getting another stab at a world title immediately after losing his previous title bid.
Not if you’re Melvin “Gringo” Jerusalem.
Because of his heads up performance last January when he challenged and lost to WBC World minimumweight champion Wenhang Menayothin in Thailand, the ALA Boxing Gym star is tapped to fight again for a world crown on May 23 against South African Simphiwe “Chain Reaction” Khonco for the latter’s International Boxing Organization (IBO) World minimumweight title in Gauteng, South Africa.
The 22-year old Jerusalem (11-1-0, 7KOs) of Bukidnon said that he is ready to face another world champion to fulfill his dream to become a world champion. Jerusalem lost to Menayothin (45-0-0,17KOs) via unanimous decision in the latter’s hometown in Phitsanulok, Thailand last January 25.
“It’s another big opportunity that must not slip out of my hands so I took the fight,” Jerusalem told CDN. “I have already moved on from my loss in Thailand. As a challenger, I have realized that I must knock out my opponent to win a title and that served as a lesson for me after I challenged Menayothin.”
A week after his failed title shot in Thailand, Jerusalem returned to the gym to start training.
Khonco won the IBO world minimumweight title by beating fellow South African Nkosinathi Joyi via unanimous decision last November.
“My motivation is my family and my girlfriend. They always encourage me to continue to fight and they always tell me that I can become a world champion. My team and my trainers are also my source of inspiration. I am very happy with my manager because he gave me another chance to fight for a world title,” Jerusalem said. “I just learned that I am the first boxer in ALA Boxing Gym that was given a world title fight right after a loss in another world title fight so I am very encouraged to train hard and do my best in this rare opportunity,” he added.
Jerusalem is currently training at the ALA Boxing Gym in Barangay Talamban, Cebu City alongside two division world champion Donnie “Ahas” Nietes who is scheduled to fight for the vacant IBF world flyweight title versus IBF No. 4 Eaktawan Morkrunthepthonbur on April 29 here in Cebu.
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