Melvin Jerusalem may have successfully defeated his first opponent, the WBC strawweight world champion, but finding meaningful fights for him remains a challenge.

Jerusalem (23-3, 12 knockouts), 30, defeated mandatory challenger Luis Castillo via unanimous decision on Sunday in Mandaluyong, Philippines, stopping the previously undefeated Castillo in the first round and then winning all 12 rounds on two judges’ scores.

Fulfilling the mandatory means Jerusalem now has the freedom to make an optional defense. If it were up to him, Jerusalem says he would like to unify against WBA titleholder Thammanoon Niyomtrong of Thailand.

Niyomtrong (25-0, 9 KOs) is the longest-reigning titleholder in the sport, having held a version of the belt since 2016. The 34-year-old traveled to Australia to defend the belt earlier this month, defeating Alex Winwood by majority decision.

“I want to fight the WBA champion [Niyomtrong]”said Jerusalem Manolo Forticha in Bukidnon, Philippines.

“He’s still good. He’s robust, but my dream is to fight him because I want to fight in unification fights. I’ll prepare for that.”

Promoter Jim Claude Manangquil of Sanman Promotions says that while they would like to stage a fight to commemorate Jerusalem, the problem is finding the money for a fight between 105-pound fighters who are virtually unknown outside of Southeast Asia.

“It will be a tough fight, but [as far as] “In terms of competitive style, I think Melvin will beat him easily,” Manangquil said.

“The problem is finding the money for these fights. We were lucky that Manny [Pacquiao] he had a budget for Blow by Blow [broadcast]“- added Sean Gibbons of MP Promotions, the company promoting the event, which was free to attend.

Gibbons said the occasional title defense in the Philippines came about after WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman visited Pacquiao earlier this year for his fight. The sides agreed to a Jerusalem-Castillo fight, which was to be followed by a series of 5-on-5 fights between Pacquiao’s fighters and Mexican promotion Bxstrs Promotions in the Philippines and Mexico.

Manangquil adds that Kameda’s group still has an option for his next defense as part of the deal for Jerusalem’s title fight with Yudai Shigeoka (9-1, 5 KOs) in March this year in Japan, meaning a rematch could be possible. Shigeoka bounced back from his defeat to Jerusalem with a unanimous decision win over former title challenger Samuel Salva in August.

“He may have to have a rematch with him,” said Sean Gibbons of MP Promotions.

“But right now he’s just enjoying the win. It’s still early days. I’ll talk to JC next week to see what we can work out.”

One fight Gibbons would like to see for Jerusalem is a rematch with WBO heavyweight titleholder Oscar Collazo, who stopped Jerusalem in the seventh round of their 2023 fight.

“People don’t realize the Collazo fight was an absolute disaster. He was denied a visa, we got an emergency single-entry visa, he came in seven days early. He was completely dazed. He lost before the bell even rang. He’s a much better fighter than Collazo. We’re targeting Collazo, we want a rematch for Melvin,” Gibbons said.

The fight with Castillo was Jerusalem’s first title fight in the Philippines. He won two belts in Japan, and in 2017 he unsuccessfully challenged for the WBC title in Thailand against Wanheng Menayothin and lost a title defense to Collazo in the United States.

Jerusalem says fighting in his homeland was a dream come true, but he has other dreams.

“I am very ecstatic and confident that I will perform well in my country because this fight is my dream fight, defending my belt here, in my homeland,” said Jerusalem, who is trained by Nobuyuki and Mhavic Matsuura.

“Luis Castillo is a tough and brave boxer, and I had already prepared myself for what happened because I know that Mexican boxers are very robust.

“My dream 1727249411 “it’s winning four belts and making history in the minimum weight class.”

By: Sean Crose

No one thought IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois was a second-rate opponent for Anthony Joshua. They simply didn’t think the man would literally beat up the popular former champion. Yet that’s exactly what Dubois did from the first round on Saturday night in London. Joshua, one of the most popular fighters in the sport – if not the most popular – never showed up for a fight after his fellow Englishman tagged him early in the first round. In four rounds and a few seconds, Dubois went from being a respected fighter to one of the most highly regarded heavyweights in the world.

Now that the 27-year-old is a star in the sport, he has a number of lucrative and prestigious opportunities ahead of him. First, there’s a potential rematch with Joshua. Of course, Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, has stated that there’s a rematch clause between the two fighters. If so, Dubois would likely enter the ring as the clear favorite. It may sound like it’s been said before, but Dubois-Joshua 2 would be a stern fight regardless. Plus, Joshua still has significant knockout power, meaning anything is possible.

Then, of course, there’s the highly anticipated rematch between WBA, WBC and WBO heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk and former WBC world champion Tyson Fury, which is set to take place in Saudi Arabia in December. Holding the IBF title means the winner will have to beat Dubois if they want to become undisputed champion. And Dubois has already proven he’s no basic opponent. You could say he floored Usyk when they first met a while back, although it was controversially ruled a knockdown. Usyk won that fight, but it wasn’t an basic night for the undefeated Ukrainian.

As for Fury, the fighter known as “The Gypsy King” would have a huge height advantage over Dubois – but then again, so did Joshua. If Dubois could get Fury with his jab, he could finish the punches that broke Joshua last weekend. But that sort of thing is easier said than done. That said, few things are basic in the sport of boxing. On top of that, Dubois exudes confidence, which he has every right to at this point in his career. The question is, how far will that take him? Combined with the skill set the man has shown recently, it will be intriguing to find out.

Q: Where does your boxing story begin?

DeLuca: It started when I was a kid. I started boxing in a program in downtown Boston. It was more like Dorchester self-defense. It was a miniature neighborhood group that you went to every Saturday, sparring or hitting the bag. But it didn’t last long; I was 10 when they shut it down. Then I moved on.

Q: What initially got you into boxing? It’s always compelling to hear how people got into boxing, considering how hazardous it can be.

DeLuca: My dad boxed on the same show when he was adolescent. He won the Golden Gloves and had a few pro fights. So I guess it was a case of “monkey see, monkey do.” I just followed in his footsteps.

Q: When did you start taking boxing seriously?

DeLuca: When I joined a modern gym, I started competing in Junior Olympics and local tournaments like Silver Gloves. When I was 12, I took it seriously and stayed competitive until I joined the Marines. From age 12 to 19, I was in the amateur circuit.

Q: What made you join the Marines with such a passion for boxing? Was there a turning point?

DeLuca: I think I was at a crossroads. My dad was into boxing, but he wasn’t really interested. I didn’t know if boxing was a real career for me, and I needed to make money. I was always interested in the military, but I also wanted to keep boxing, so I joined the Marine Corps Reserve. After boot camp, I came back and resumed my boxing career.

Q: How demanding is the physical aspect of being a Marine? Does that have anything to do with boxing?

DeLuca: Absolutely. There’s a fitness standard, and there’s a weight standard. In the Marines, you can’t be out of shape, so boxing and military life were pretty similar for me, both mentally and physically.

Q: Are you still committed to your professional career?

DeLuca: No, I retired last year. Now I just train guys.

Q: What are some memorable moments from your career? Any shows that stand out?

DeLuca: Yeah, I remember fighting a guy named Anthony Osbourne from Jamaica. His record was 7-28-1, but just before our fight, he went 10 rounds and beat an older, but still tough, former contender from Jamaica. I hit Osbourne challenging in the first round, but he was a tough, crafty veteran who never let me finish him. That fight really stands out.

Q: Who is the best fighter you have ever fought in the ring, both in sparring and in professional fighting?

DeLuca: Erislandy Lara, Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade and Carlos Gongora. The level of relaxation they have in the ring is impressive. It’s like they’re walking in the park, even if you land a good punch. They don’t get nervous. They’re just so mellow and relaxed.

Q: How do you translate your experiences as a player into your role as a coach?

DeLuca: I always had a knack for training, even as a adolescent fighter. The first pro I trained was a friend of mine when I was 16. He was getting back into shape and I helped him win before he retired. That’s when I realized I had a passion for it. After I retired, I started training guys full time and it was a natural progression for me.

Q: What sets you apart as a coach?

DeLuca: I have always been comfortable leading and motivating guys. Even when I was younger, I would lend a hand others in the gym. Now I employ that experience to motivate my fighters. I believe in keeping them motivated through a combination of mental and physical toughness. Being a coach has made the transition from fighting much smoother for me.