Earlier at the moment in Mandaluyong within the Philippines, WBC 105-pound champ Melvin Jerusalem, making the primary protection of his belt, dominated an unbeaten challenger within the type of the considerably taller Luis Castillo of Mexico. The native hero, all 5’2” of him, received by way of commanding scores of 120-107, 120-107, and a touch nearer 118-109. 30-year-old Jerusalem dropped his southpaw challenger with a proper hand to the pinnacle within the opening spherical, and he by no means allowed the 5’6” Castillo to get into the battle.
Now 26-5(12) two-time 105 pound champ Jerusalem of Bukidnon within the Philippines is at the moment three wins faraway from his sole stoppage loss, this his nook retirement defeat to Oscar Collazo in Might of final yr. Castillo, who was making a giant step up at school at the moment and was having his first battle exterior of Mexico, falls to 21-1-1(13).
Jerusalem boxed fairly brilliantly in at the moment’s battle, and it was wonderful Castillo was capable of final the gap, contemplating the quantity of punishment he was given. Jerusalem, who needed to pay attention within the lead-up to the battle to Castillo telling him that he would KO him, as an alternative gave his challenger fairly a beating. The defending champion, who was having his first world title battle at residence, was a lot the quicker man, and he put some speedy combos collectively in opposition to the considerably plodding Castillo.
“I wished to knock him out,” Jerusalem stated post-fight. “However he was robust, and he wouldn’t stop.”
For this, Castillo will get credit score, however the distinction in ranges between the 2 fighters was starkly evident. The truth is, what was anticipated by some to be a superb battle, perhaps even a terrific one, was made simple by the champion. At present’s battle was the headline function on all-time nice Manny Pacquiao’s ‘Blow-by-Blow,’ and it was the primary world title battle staged within the Philippines since 2016.
On the identical card, former bantamweight champ Jerwin Ancajas scored a fifth spherical DQ win over over-matched foe Sukpraserd Ponpitak. Ancajas, who was stopped by Takuma Inoue in February, improved to 35-4-2(23). Ponpitak, who was thrown out for throwing Ancajas to the mat in a match of frustration, falls to 30-20(20).
