Melvin Jerusalem (left) and Manny Pacquiao (Contributed photo)
MANILA – World Boxing Council (WBC) minimum weight champion Melvin Jerusalem will defend his title against undefeated Mexican Luis Castillo in September.
Manny Pacquiao’s MP Promotions will arrange the quality fight card for Jerusalem's first title defense in either Manila, Masbate or General Santos City.
“Quality world boxing titles will be coming soon to the Philippines, and Melvin Jerusalem, our present world champion, will be a main part of it. It's great timing that he is holding one of the most prestigious world boxing titles -- the WBC," said Pacquiao, an eight-division world champion, on Tuesday.
Castillo, 26, is a southpaw with 21 wins against one draw with 13 knockouts.
MP Promotions president Sean Gibbons said the timing is right as it was agreed upon with the WBC when President Mauricio Sulaiman came to Manila last March.
“For pride and country, this is surely a Filipino thing because long enough everytime a Filipino becomes a world champion, he’s really obliged to go to defend their belts at the enemy's territory. So Jerusalem is our last remaining hope at the moment, he is our only reigning Filipino world champion, and we need this fight to happen in the Philippines," Gibbons said.
Jerusalem is a former World Boxing Organization (WBO) minimum weight champion. He won the WBC belt after a split decision victory over Japanese Yudai Shigeoka in Tokyo, Japan last March 31.
“That’s really one of my dreams aside from becoming a world champion: To fight and defend my crown in front of the Filipino crowd here in our country. I am really thrilled and excited," said the 30-year-old Jerusalem, who has a 22-3 win-loss record with 12 knockouts.
Jerusalem's handler, Sanman promotions chief JC Mananquil, said he is willing to work with the MP Promotions to co-promote the fight under the guidance of Pacquiao and Gibbons.
“Sean Gibbons and MP Promotions have provided Filipino boxers a great amount of hope for many years. They have built a lot of world champions since then. So we are very grateful to join forces with them again to co-promote Jerusalem’s world title fight here,” Mananquil said. (PNA)
