WBC Special Preview: Jerusalem vs Castillo
WBC STATISTICS
WBC Straw-weight World Championship
September 22, 2024 / Mandaluyong City, Philippines / Mandaluyong City College
MP PROMOTIONS PRESENTS:
MELVIN JERUSALEM (Philippines)
WBC Strawweight World Champion, 1st Title Defense
Former Oriental & Pacific Boxing Federation Strawweight Champion
Age: 30 / Date of birth: February 22, 1994
Residence, birthplace: Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, Philippines
Record: 22-3, 12 KOs / Total rounds: 152 / World championship fights: 2-2, 1 KO
Height: 5’2” – 157cm / Reach: 62” – 157cm / Stance: Right-handed
LUIS “Flechita” CASTILLO (Mexico)
Ranked WBC No. 1 / Mandatory Challenger at Strawweight
Age: 27 / Date of birth: July 6, 1997
Residence, birthplace: Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico
Record: 21-0-1, 13 KOs / Total rounds: 98
Height: 5’5” – 167cm / Reach: 66” – 168cm / Stance: Left-handed
WBC STRAW-WEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONS
- Hiroki Ioka (Japan) 1987 – 1988
- Napa Kiatwanchai (Thailand) 1988 – 1989
- Jeum-Hwang Choi (Korea) 1989 – 1990
- Hideyuki Ohashi (Japan) 1990
- Ricardo Lopez (Mexico) 1990 – 1998
- Wandee Chor Chareon (Thai) 1998 – 2000
- Jose Antonio Aguirre (Mexico) 2000 – 2004
- Eagle Kyowa (Japan) 2004
- Isaac Bustos (Mexico) 2004 – 2005
- Katsunari Takayama (Japan) 2005
- Eagle Kyowa (Japan) * 2005 – 2007
- Juan Palacios (Nic.) Interim 2008
- Oleydong Sithsamerchai (Thai) 2008 – 2011
- Kazuto Ioka (Japan) 2011 – 2012
- Xiong Zhao Zhong (China) 2013 – 2014
- Osvaldo Novoa (Mexico) 2014
- Wanheng Menayothin (Thai) 2014 – 2020
- Panya Pradabsri (Thai) 2020 – 2023
- Yudai Shigeoka (Japan) 2023 – 2024
- Melvin Jerusalem (Phil) 2024 –
* Regained
WBC TOP TEN
Ricardo Lopez (Mexico)
Oleydong Sithsamerchai (Thai)
Wanheng Menayothin (Thai)
Hideyuki Ohashi (Japan)
Eagle Kyowa (Japan)
Wandee Chor Chareon (Thai)
Jose Antonio Aguirre (Mexico)
Hiroki Ioka (Japan)
Napa Kiatwanchai (Thai)
10. Kazuto Ioka (Japan)
GENERAL INFORMATION ON THE STRAWWEIGHT DIVISION IN WBC HISTORY
19 world champions have been recognized by the WBC, of whom only one has regained the title: Eagle Kyowa (Japan).
86 strawweight world championship bouts have been held in WBC history.
Ricardo “Finito” Lopez of Mexico holds the division record for successful title defenses with 21.
MEMORABLE WBC STRAWWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHTS
Mar. 31, 2024 Melvin Jerusalem W12 Yudai Shigeoka – Nagoya, Japan
Oct. 7, 2023 Yudai Shigeoka W12 Panya Pradabsri – Tokyo, Japan
June 28, 2023 Panya Pradabsri TKO8 Norihito Tanaka – Rayong, Thailand
Aug. 31, 2022 Panya Pradabsri W12 Norihito Tanaka – Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand
Mar. 29, 2022 Panya Pradabsri W12 Wanheng Menayothin – Nakhon Sawan, Thailand
Nov. 2, 2021 Panya Pradabsri W12 Danai Ngiabphukhiaw – Nakhon Sawan, Thailand
Nov. 27, 2020 Panya Pradabsri W12 Wanheng Menayothin – Nakhon Sawan, Thailand
Oct. 25, 2019 Wanheng Menayothin W12 Simpiwe Konko – Chonburi, Thailand
May 31, 2019 Wanheng Menayothin TW8 Tatsuya Fukuhara – Chachoengsao, Thailand
Aug. 29, 2018 Wanheng Menayothin W12 Pedro Taduran – Nakhon Sawan, Thailand
Nov. 25, 2017 Wanheng Menayothin W12 Tatsuya Fukuhara – Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand
Aug. 2, 2016 Wanheng Menayothin W12 Saul Juarez – Chonburi, Thailand
Nov. 6, 2014 Wanheng Menayothin TKO9 Oswaldo Novoa – Chonburi, Thailand
Feb. 5, 2014 Oswaldo Novoa TKO5 Chaozhong Xiong – Haikou, China
Nov. 24, 2012 Chaozhong Xiong W12 Javier Martinez Resendiz – Kunming, China
Feb. 11, 2011 Kazuto Ioka TKO5 Oleydong Sithsamerchai – Kobe, Japan
Nov. 29, 2007 Oleydong Sithsamerchai W12 Eagle Kyowa – Bangkok, Thailand
Aug. 6, 2005 Eagle Kyowa W12 Katsunari Takayama – Tokyo, Japan
Apr. 4, 2005 Katsunari Takayama W12 Isaac Bustos – Osaka, Japan
Dec. 18, 2004 Isaac Bustos TKO4 Eagle Kyowa – Tokyo, Japan
Jan. 10, 2004 Eagle Kyowa W12 Jose Antonio Aguirre – Tokyo, Japan
Jul. 7, 2000 Jose Antonio Aguirre KO5 Jose Luis Zepeda – Villahermosa, Mexico
Feb. 11, 2000 Jose Antonio Aguirre W12 Wandee Chor Chareon – Samut Sakhon, Thailand
May 4, 1999 Wandee Chor Chareon TKO12 Wolf Tokimitsu – Kurashiki, Japan
Aug. 23, 1998 Wandee Chor Chareon W12 Rocky Lin – Yokohama, Japan
Nov. 13, 1998 Ricardo Lopez W12 Rosendo Alvarez – Las Vegas, Nevada
Mar. 7, 1998 Ricardo Lopez TD8 Rosendo Alvarez – México City, México
Sep. 17, 1994 Ricardo Lopez TKO1 Surachai Saengmorakot – Las Vegas, Nevada
Dec. 18, 1993 Ricardo Lopez KO11 Manny Melchor – Stateline, Nevada
Oct. 25, 1990 Ricardo Lopez TKO5 Hideyuki Ohashi – Tokyo, Japan
June 8, 1990 Hideyuki Ohashi W12 Napa Kiatwanchai – Tokyo, Japan
Feb. 7, 1990 Hideyuki Ohashi KO9 Jum-Hwan Choi – Tokyo, Japan
Nov. 12, 1989 Jum-Hwan Choi TKO12 Napa Kiatwanchai – Seoul, South Korea
Nov. 13, 1988 Napa Kiatwanchai W12 Hiroki Ioka – Osaka, Japan
Oct. 18, 1987 Hiroki Ioka W12 Mai Thomburifarm – Osaka, Japan
Will the Walls of Jerusalem Withstand Slings and Arrows?
By James Blears
In his second reign as a world champion Melvin ‘’Gringo’’ Jerusalem defends his WBC straw weight crown against lanky hard hitting Mexican Luis ‘’Flechita’’ Castillo on Sunday September 22nd at the Mandaluyong City College Gym, in Metro, Manila.
Who might deliver that Sunday punch to seize glory? Melvin’s right hand is pure dynamite and southpaw ‘’Flechita’’ bows to no man, with his potent arrow-like left.
As with so many Filipino fighters, Melvin has been a globetrotter. He has spent his career on an odyssey, being a road warrior. But in recognition of his capturing the WBC Green and Gold Belt, by defeating Yudai Shigeoka by SD in Japan, including decking him twice, Sean Gibbons and Manny Pacquiao worked extra hard to bring him home to fight in front of his very own adoring home town fans. A rare treat and Melvin is determined to make the most of it and do them all proud.
Aged thirty, he’s a seasoned, skilled, capable, wily, cunning and courageous fighter, having built a record of 22-3, 12 KO’s. But now, standing square in his way, is lean, hungry and undefeated challenger Luis Angel Castillo Soto, who has built an impressive pro record of 21-0-1, 13 KO’s. For boxing’s most slender division, Luis is tall and rangy. He stands five feet five inches tall and his sixty-six inches reach, which he uses adroitly and it might provide a significant advantage. This gives him a physical plus over Melvin, who is just five feet two with a wingspan of four inches less. Having said this, Melvin has spent the majority of his career fighting taller opponents, honing his upper body movement. This consideration and factor is nothing new for him.
The man from Los Mochis, Sinaloa, has appreciably less experience and hasn’t fought at the same rarefied level as Melvin. This long trip will be a stern and defining test for him. A proving ground, far and a way, away from home and with the home fans cheering on the other man. Their man.
Melvin showed early promise. Seven years ago, he took on the legendary and mighty Wanheng Menayothin, who was 44-0, 17 KO’s at the time. Audacious Melvin’s fledgling record was 11-0, 7KO’s. It was one helluva fight, which the champion won by UD. Melvin was docked a point in round seven for a low blow. If this hadn’t happened he would have emerged with a MD.
He pulled off a sensational shock, by upending WBO straw weight champion Masataka Taniguchi at the Osaka Prefectural Gym last year. After a fairly uneventful opening round, which the champion won 10-9 on two of the scorecards, he slightly lowered his hands in round two and BOOM…a massive bolt from the blue right dropped him everso hard. Stunned, shaken and stirred, he barely managed to stagger to his feet, but coordination and faculties had deserted him and he was in no condition to continue. Fortune favours the bold and Melvin had come up trumps!
Then just four months later, disaster struck Melvin. In his first defence he was mauled and overwhelmed by sturdy Oscar Collazo at the Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, California. Oscar tore into him at a frenetic pace, which never abated, clobbering him all over the place. His corner retired him on the stool, after seven torrid and torrential rounds. A wise, sensible and humane move, enabling him to fight another day.
That could have been that there and then, but he went back to the drawing board and redeemed himself in March of this year, with a wonderful performance to win the WBC straw weight title against Yudai Shigeoka who he decked twice. Like a true champion, Yudai fought back with tenacity, vigour and vim, roared on by the Japanese fans to make it so close, yet Melvin stuck to his task, emerging with a SD victory.
Referring to Luis, Melvin and his team know full well, the tangible danger he presents. Melvin states; ‘’We have a gameplan. He’s a good taller boxer, but I know how to adjust. We have been training for months and I will give it my all and my best to defend my WBC Belt. I’m very happy to defend my belt in my home town.’’
Filipino promoter Jim Claude Manangquil concurs saying; ‘’Castillo is a tough and unbeaten Mexican. He’s a great fighter and Mexicans always, but always come to fight. But Melvin’s skills and Melvin’s right hand, will be too much for him.’’
Luis will be fighting outside Mexico for the first time in his ten years career. His biggest win came two years ago in stopping former title challenger Abraham Rodriguez in six rounds at light flyweight. His most recent fight was against Miguel Angel Herrera at super-flyweight, last November. It was Luis’ first fight in fifteen long months, but he showed little if any ring rust, winning a comfortable and convincing UD over ten rounds.
He uses his right southpaw lead judiciously although he sometimes tends to paw with it, as a range finder. This sets up his long and accurate left, which he can effectively administer to body and head. When tagged he’s fond of standing his ground and trading, and that’s when he’s less effective.
Melvin wants to draw him into a close quarters fight, rather than be picked off at long range. Luis is calm, methodical, ruthlessly punishes mistakes and he’s unhurried. So, to unsettle him, Melvin will need to rattle and harry him amid ships and close in, toe to toe. The pace of this fight could prove a decisive factor.
Both are intelligent and accomplished fighters and each carries genuine power in both hands. Just because they a small, it doesn’t mean that they aren’t little big men. Years ago, the Great Ricardo ‘’Finito’’ Lopez 51-0-1, who was undefeated in a seventeen years illustrious career KO’d thirty- eight of his opponents.
Going back much further, Jimmy ‘’Ghost with the hammer in his hand’ Wilde, who mostly fought at flyweight, giving away parcels of pounds to opponents and could have easily been a straw weight, if the division had existed back then, built an astonishing and an astounding record of 131-3, 98 KO’s. The straw weights punch far above their modest poundage. This fight between Jerusalem Vs Castillo will be no exception.
At the other end of the scale, Joe Frazier marvelled at the teak toughness of Muhammad Ali, saying he had hit him with punches which would knock down the walls of cities, but apart from their first titanic encounter, Ali hadn’t gone down and withstood all that was thrown and landed, often as not with a resounding thud. It’s linked the two of them for eternity.
Punches not verbose diction will count. Action rather than words will be the aim of taciturn ‘’Flechita.’’ It will take more than the magnificent rhetoric of the Bible’s Joshua 6.2: ‘’When people heard the sound of the trumpet, they raised a great shout and the walls of Jericho fell down.’’ The walls of Jerusalem will prove of sturdier design, hue and architecture.
It might even involve the words of Shakespeare in Hamlet; ‘’To be or not to be. Whether is nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, or to take up arms against a sea of troubles. And by opposing, end them.’’
Meanwhile Melvin will be trying with all of his might to embrace another immortal line of Joe Frazier which is: ‘’Champions are made from something they have deep inside. A desire, a dream, a vision.’’
Related posts
test