Melvin Jerusalem (left) during his fight against Toto Landero (right) in Minglanilla town, south Cebu in 2018. | CDN File Photo
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Former ALA Boxing Gym stalwart and ex-world title contender, Melvin “Gringo” Jerusalem, vows to avenge the loss of fellow Filipino Rene Mark Cuarto who lost the International Boxing Federation (IBF) world minimumweight title in Mexico last Saturday.
Cuarto bowed to Mexican contender Daniel Valladares via unanimous decision in their fight held in Monterey, Mexico, losing the IBF world title in the process.
There is no other contender next in-line but Jerusalem, the 28-year-old Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon native who now fights under ZIP Sanman Boxing Team.
In an interview with CDN Digital, Jerusalem is ready to fight Valladares if ever he gets called up to challenge the newly-crowned world champion from Mexico.
“Ug mahatagan ko og chance nga makontra si Valladares, paningkamotan jud nako ug buhaton nako tanan para mapildi siya,” said Jerusalem who is rated in the top 10 in all of the four major boxing governing bodies.
(If I will be given a chance to fight Valladares, I will work hard and do my best so that I can beat him.)
Jerusalem is also the top contender in the World Boxing Organization (WBO) mininumweight division with Japanese Masataka Taniguchi as the champion. He is ranked No. 2 in the World Boxing Council (WBC) with Thai Panya Pradabsri as the reigning champion, and No. 6 in the WBA with Thammanoon Niyomtrong as the current champion.
“Andam na kaayo ko sa tanang dula ug naa man gani offer sa ako-a, unta mahatagan na jud ko ug chance nga makadula ug world title balik this year,” said Jerusalem.
(I am ready to fight all and if there will be offers for me, I hope that they will give me a chance to fight for a world title again this year.)
“Mahatagan na unta ko ug chance makakontra ang mga world champions sa akong timbang kay andam na jud ko.”
(May I be given a chance to fight against world champions in my weight class because I am ready.)
Jerusalem is not new in fighting world champions, in 2017, three years after he turned pro, he got the chance to fight for the world title in Thailand.
He fought Wanheng Menayothin for the WBC world minimumweight title, but he fell short after losing to a unanimous decision in the bout marred with dirty tactics from the Thai champion.
After his loss, Jerusalem suffered another defeat in the hands of another world title contender in Joey Canoy in Cebu in the same year. Instead of losing interest, Jerusalem went on a seven-fight winning streak, and won the OPBF minimumweight title to remain relevant in the division.
Jerusalem sports a record of 18 wins 10 knockouts and 2 defeats. His most recent victory was against fellow Filipino Ramel Antaran in General Santos City where he bagged a unanimous decision victory.
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