Melvin Jerusalem, now boasting a record of 26 wins, 5 losses, and 12 knockouts, successfully retained his WBC 105-pound title in his first world title fight at home in Bukidnon, Philippines. He remains three wins away from his sole stoppage loss, a corner retirement against Oscar Collazo in May of last year. His opponent, Castillo, making his first fight outside of Mexico, saw his record fall to 21 wins, 1 loss, and 1 draw, with 13 knockouts.
Jerusalem showcased his boxing skills brilliantly, overwhelming Castillo with his speed and precision. Despite the punishment he endured, Castillo managed to last the full distance. Leading up to the fight, Castillo had boasted about knocking out Jerusalem, but the champion turned the tables, delivering a commanding performance instead. After the fight, Jerusalem expressed, “I wanted to knock him out, but he was tough and would not quit.”
The bout, a highlight of the event, was part of legendary Manny Pacquiao’s ‘Blow-by-Blow’ series and marked the first world title fight held in the Philippines since 2016. On the same card, former bantamweight champion Jerwin Ancajas secured a fifth-round disqualification victory over Sukpraserd Ponpitak. Ancajas improved his record to 35 wins, 4 losses, and 2 draws, while Ponpitak fell to 30 wins and 20 losses, after being disqualified for throwing Ancajas to the mat in frustration.
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