MANILA, Philippines — Itataya ni Melvin Jerusalem ang suot na World Boxing Council (WBC) minimumweight belt kontra kay undefeated Mexican challenger Luis Castillo sa Setyembre.
Ang MP Promotions ni Manny Pacquiao ang maglalatag sa unang title defense ng 30-anyos na two-time world champion na wala pang venue.
“Quality world boxing title will be coming soon to the Philippines, and Melvin Jerusalem, our present world champion, will be a main part of it,” wika ng eight-division world champion na si Pacquiao.
Inangkin ni Jerusalem, dating World Boxing Organization (WBO) minimumweight champion, ang WBC crown matapos ang split decision victory kay Japanese Yudai Shigeoka noong Marso 31 sa Tokyo.
Bitbit ni Jerusalem ang 22-3-0 win-loss-draw record tampok ang 12 knockouts habang dala ni Castillo ang 21-0-1 (13 KOs) card.
“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 enemy’s territory,” ani MP Promotions president Sean Gibbons.
“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,” dagdag nito.
Bukas naman si Sanman promotions chief JC Mananquil, ang handler ni Jerusalem, sa pakikiisa sa MP Promotions para maging co-promoter ng laban.