Jerusalem upbeat on his 1st defense

FILIPINO WBO minimumweight champion Melvin Jerusalem (left) will undergo a series of training camps in preparation for his first title defense against Puerto Rican Oscar Collazo (right). (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

WBO minimumweight champion Melvin ‘Gringo’ Jerusalem (20-0, 12KOs) gears up for what he considers the most important defense of his career against Puerto Rican Oscar ‘El Pupilo’ Collazo (6-0, 4KOs) in May.

This marks the first time that Jerusalem will put his throne on the line after winning the title last January when he destroyed Japanese Masataka Taniguchi in the second round at the Edion Stadium in Osaka, Japan.

“I am determined to defend my belt and I am going to work harder than last time,” said Jerusalem, who just arrived in Japan with his trainer Michael Domingo to start their training camp. “I know my opponent (Collazo) will do his best to take my belt away, but I won’t allow him to do that.”

Aside from training and sparring in Japan, Jerusalem’s camp is also planning to send the Filipino champion to the United States for the final phase of his preparation.

Melvin Jerusalem stopped Japanese foe Masataka Taniguchi in the second round to become the WBO world minimumweight champion on Friday at Edion Stadium in Osaka, Japan.

Meanwhile, Golden Boy Promotions of boxing legend Oscar Dela Hoya and Miguel Cotto Promotions won the bidding for the rights to promote the fight which means that it may happen in the US or on Collazo’s turf in Puerto Rico.

“I am ready to face him anywhere,” said the Bukidnon-native boxer. “It’s been my ultimate dream of being a world champion and I have no plan of letting go of my belt.” – Lemuel P. Maglinte