WBC Champion Melvin Jerusalem Voices Disappointment Over Canceled Unification Bout
World Boxing Council (WBC) minimumweight champion Melvin Jerusalem has openly expressed his hurt and frustration following the cancellation of his highly anticipated rematch and unification fight with Oscar Collazo. The bout, which would have unified three world belts in the division, was called off despite initial assurances of a postponement.
Training Sacrifices Made in Vain
Jerusalem revealed that he and his team had invested significant effort into preparing for the fight, originally scheduled for March. "We trained hard and sacrificed a lot for this fight, so I was really hurt when it was called off," Jerusalem told SunStar Cebu. He emphasized that he had skipped his holiday break and booked an early flight to the United States to begin intense training, only to learn that Collazo's team had opted for a different opponent.
Initially, Collazo's camp indicated the fight would be moved to June or July. However, Collazo instead chose to defend his World Boxing Association (WBA) and World Boxing Organization (WBO) titles against Jesus Haro on March 14, 2026, in Anaheim, California. This decision left Jerusalem feeling misled, as he had passed up other fight opportunities to pursue this unification match.
History and Future Prospects
Jerusalem and Collazo first clashed in 2023 in California, where Jerusalem lost his WBO title after being stopped in the seventh round. The canceled rematch was seen as a chance for redemption and unification. With that opportunity now gone, Jerusalem is likely to defend his WBC belt in Japan. "They will find a way for me to fight in Japan," he stated, adding that he plans to return home to Bukidnon for a short rest before resuming training in Cebu.
Potential opponents for Jerusalem's next fight include:
- Undefeated Japanese boxer Ryusei Matsumoto
- Beaven Sibanda of Zimbabwe
- Mexico's Luis Castillo
- Several other Japanese fighters ranked in the top 15
Notably, top-ranked contenders Joey Canoy and Siyakholwa Kuse are unavailable as they are scheduled to face each other in a title eliminator, with the winner becoming the mandatory challenger for Jerusalem's belt.
Remaining Resilient and Focused
Despite the setback, Jerusalem remains determined and ready for any challenge. "I'll fight anyone," he asserted. However, his primary goal remains a unification fight, highlighting that he had previously turned down other bouts to chase the rematch with Collazo. This cancellation represents a significant blow to his career aspirations, but Jerusalem is committed to staying prepared for future opportunities in the competitive minimumweight division.
