Jerusalem due for title defense

MANILA, Philippines — The country’s only reigning world boxing champion Melvin Jerusalem is mandated to stake his WBC minimumweight crown against No. 1 contender Luis Castillo of Mexico and MP Promotions head Sean Gibbons said yesterday he’s moving mountains to set the defense tentatively on Sept. 7 in Manila or General Santos City or Masbate or anywhere in the Philippines.

Jerusalem was in Masbate to witness the second edition of Gov. Antonio Kho’s “Bakbakan” series last weekend and said the other option is to face Castillo in Mexico. “Bahala si Sir Sean,” said Jerusalem. “Lalaban ako kung saan man pero maganda kung sa bansa natin.” Gibbons flew in from Las Vegas to attend Gov. Kho’s boxing card and met with Jerusalem and his promoter JC Manangquil of SanMan Promotions and managers Japanese businessman Nobuyuki Matsuura and his Filipina wife Mhavic who were all in Masbate.

Gibbons flew from Masbate to Manila to General Santos City to confer with Manny Pacquiao on the possibility of staging Jerusalem’s defense at home. Gibbons declined to disclose the budget for the boxers’ purses but said the amount is manageable. “I hope to discuss it with Senator Manny who’s busy training for his three-round fight in Japan on July 28,” said Gibbons. “Melvin’s the only world champion we’ve got and for his mandatory defense, we’d prefer it not to be in Mexico.”

Castillo, nicknamed Flechita (little arrow), is an unbeaten southpaw with a 21-0-1 record, including 13 KOs. The 26-year-old Los Mochis, Sinaloa, fighter has never seen action outside of Mexico. Of his 13 KOs, 12 came within three rounds. Jerusalem, 30, has a 22-3 record, with 12 KOs.  He scored a split 12-round decision over Yudai Shigeoka to wrest the WBC crown in Nagoya last March. Jerusalem decked Shigeoka in rounds three and six to punctuate the win.