Jerusalem ready to fend off Castillo

MANILA, Philippines — There will be no retreat – and definitely no surrender – for Melvin Jerusalem, one of the only two reigning Filipino boxing world champions, in a bid to retain his belt in front of the home crowd.

Jerusalem vowed to defend his crown, shrugging off unbeaten Mexican challenger Luis Castillo’s knockout warning in their WBC world minimumweight title fight to headline Manny Pacquiao Promotions’ Blow-by-Blow Sunday in Mandaluyong.

“Ito na ‘yung matagal na pagkakataong aking hinintay. Pinaghandaan natin na maging world champion ulit at madepensahan iyong belt natin sa Pilipinas. Itong depensa na ito ay para sa Pilipinas,” said Jerusalem during the fight’s official press conference yesterday at the Manila Hotel.

“Pinag-aralan namin nang matagal si Luis. Pinanood nang paulit-ulit ang laban niya. Malakas siya, lalo na sa overhand, pero kaya natin.”

His anticipated tough defense against Castillo, from the country’s forever boxing archrival Mexico, will be the first world title fight here in seven years.

But more than that, it’s the first title defense by a Filipino at home, particularly for a WBC belt, since Pacquiao himself retained the WBC flyweight crown against Mexico’s Gabriel Mira at the Araneta Coliseum in 1999.

“This is for the Philippines. Kahit sino pong fighter, susuportahan ng Blow by Blow. Sabi po ni Sen. Manny Pacquiao, basta ikaw ay Filipino, basta ikaw ay boksingero, susuportahan ka. At ito po, may world championship fight na tayo dito sa Pilipinas,” said Blow-by-Blow CEO Marife Barrera.

Blow-by-Blow, backed by Petron and to be aired on One Sports, will have 14 undercards starting at 1 p.m. with the Jerusalem-Castillo main event set at 7 p.m. at the Mandaluyong City College.