Melvin Jerusalem


Melvin Oliva Jerusalem is a Filipino professional boxer. He is currently the World Boxing Council mini-flyweight title holder since March 2024. He also previously held the World Boxing Organization mini-flyweight title in 2023.

Professional career

Early career

First title challenge

Jerusalem, ranked #9 in the WBC strawweight rankings, faced off against champion Wanheng Menayothin on January 25, 2017. Menayothin won by a closely contested unanimous decision. Jerusalem was deducted a point in the eight round for a low blow; the bout would have finished in a majority draw otherwise.
After suffering the first loss of his professional career, Jerusalem was scheduled to face Joey Canoy on the undercard of the "Pinoy Pride 41" event on July 8, 2017. He lost the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 95–93, 95–93 and 96–92. Jerusalem was knocked down in the seventh round and was deducted a point in the eight round for repeated low blows. Jerusalem faced Jestoni Racoma at Pinoy Pride 43 on November 25, 2017. He successfully rebounded from his first professional losses by beating Racoma by unanimous decision, with scores of 78–74, 80–72, 80–82.
Jerusalem was scheduled to face Philip Luis Cuerdo on June 9, 2018, at Pinoy Pride 44. He won the fight by an eight-round technical knockout. Jerusalem was scheduled to face Toto Landero on November 10, 2018. He won the fight by unanimous decision with one judge scoring the fight 97–93 for him, while the remaining two judges awarded him a 98–92 scorecard.
Jerusalem's sole fight of 2019 was against Reymark Taday on August 17, 2019. He won the fight by a seventh-round stoppage, as Taday chose to retire from the fight at the end of the round. Jerusalem fought only once in 2020 as well, against Jayson Francisco, whom he beat by a second-round knockout.

OPBF strawweight champion

Jerusalem was booked to fight Toto Landero for the vacant OPBF strawweight title on July 16, 2021, at the Tabunoc Sports Complex in Talisay, Philippines. He won the rematch by unanimous decision, with judges scoring the fight 118–110 in his favor, while the third judge scored it 116–112 for Jerusalem. Jerusalem was next scheduled to face the journeyman Ramel Antaran in a stay-busy non-title bout on 26 February 2022. He won the fight by unanimous decision. Two judges scored the bout 79–73 in his favor, while the third judge scored the fight 77–75 for Jerusalem.

WBO mini-flyweight champion

Jerusalem vs. Taniguchi

Jerusalem challenged the reigning WBO mini-flyweight champion Masataka Taniguchi in the main event of "3150 FIGHT vol.4", which took place at the Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium in Osaka, Japan on January 6, 2023 and was broadcast by Abema TV. After losing the opening round 10–9 on two of the judges' scorecards, Jerusalem won the fight by a second-round technical knockout. He knocked Taniguchi down with a one-two combination near the first minute of the round, which left the champion unable to recover sufficiently enough to beat the ten count.

Jerusalem vs. Collazo

On January 30, 2023, Jerusalem was ordered by the WBO to make his first title defense against the unbeaten mandatory challenger Oscar Collazo. The two camps failed to reach a deal within the allotted 30-day negotiation period and a purse bid was called for February 23, which was later declared deserted by the WBO, as representatives of the two fighters failed to comply with the purse bid terms. The purse bid was rescheduled for February 27 and won by Golden Boy Promotions and Cotto Promotions, who submitted a bid of $152,000. The championship bout took place at the Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, California on May 27, 2023. Jerusalem lost the fight by a seventh-round stoppage, as he retired from the bout at the end of the round.

WBC mini-flyweight champion

Jerusalem vs. Shigeoka

On March 31, 2024 in Nagoya, Japan, Jerusalem challenged WBC minimumweight champion Yudai Shigeoka. Jerusalem twice sent the champion to the canvas, en route to winning the fight by a narrow split decision. One judge scored the bout 114–113 for Shigeoka, while the remaining two ringside officials had it an identical 114–112 for away fighter. Jerusalem handed Shigeoka his first professional defeat, while he became a two-time world titlist.

Jerusalem vs. Castillo

On September 22, 2024 in Mandaluyong, Philippines, Jerusalem was scheduled to make the first defense of his WBC minimumweight title against undefeated Mexican Luis Castillo. Jerusalem once sent the challenger to the canvas in the first round and successfully defended his championship with a lopsided decision.

Jerusalem vs. Shigeoka II

On March 30, 2025 in Aichi Sky Expo, Tokoname, Japan, Jerusalem defended his WBC minimumweight title against Yudai Shigeoka in a rematch. Jerusalem controlled the match unto the final round winning via Unanimous Decision with lopsided scores of 118–110, 119–109 and 116–112.

Jerusalem vs Kuse

''Thrilla in Manila: 50th Anniversay''
Jerusalem was scheduled to fight South African boxer Siyakholwa Kuse on October 29, 2025, with the collaborations of Blow by Blow, MP Promotions, and the International Boxing Association setting the event billed as Thrilla in Manila: 50th Anniversay. It is meant as the 50th anniversary commemoration of the original Thrilla in Manila 1975 fight between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier. Jerusalem successfully defended his title, defeating Kuse by unanimous decision. Despite a commentable effort from Kuse, Jerusalem controlled the fight. The fight began slowly, with Kuse attempting powerful combinations but struggling with defensive, which ultimately cost him. There were some fouls in the earlier rounds. Kuse was dropped, but this was ruled a slip. Open scoring was revealed split among judges after eight rounds, with Jerusalem leading on two cards and Kuse on one. The championship rounds saw both exchange heavy punches, with Jerusalem landing a significant right hand that wobbled Kuse just before the end. The closely contested fight was scored 116-112 and 115-113, for Jerusalem. After the fight, Jerusalem stated his next goal was to pursue world title unifications, targeting IBF champion Pedro Taduran in an all-Filipino bout.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
28Win25–3Siyakholwa KuseUD1229 Oct 2025Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City, PhilippinesRetained WBC mini-flyweight title
27Win24–3Yudai ShigeokaUD1230 Mar 2025Aichi Sky Expo, Tokoname, JapanRetained WBC mini-flyweight title
26Win23–3Luis CastilloUD1222 Sep 2024Mandaluyong City College, Mandaluyong, PhilippinesRetained WBC mini-flyweight title
25Win22–3Yudai Shigeoka1231 Mar 2024International Conference Hall, Nagoya, JapanWon WBC mini-flyweight title
24Win21–3Francis Jay DiazUD829 Oct 2023Robinson's Mall, General Santos City, Philippines
23Loss20–3Oscar CollazoRTD7, 3:0027 May 2023Fantasy Springs Casino, Indio, California, U.S.Lost WBO mini-flyweight title
22Win20–2Masataka TaniguchiTKO2, 1:046 Jan 2023Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, JapanWon WBO mini-flyweight title
21Win19–2Michael CamelionKO2, 1:2124 Aug 2022Sanman Gym, General Santos, Philippines
20Win18–2Ramel AntaranUD826 Feb 2022Sanman Gym, General Santos, Philippines
19Win17–2Toto LanderoUD1216 Jul 2021Tabunoc Sports Complex, Talisay, PhilippinesWon vacant OPBF mini-flyweight title
18Win16–2Jayson FranciscoKO2 17 Dec 2020Sanman Gym, General Santos, Philippines
17Win15–2Reymark TadayRTD7, 3:0017 Aug 2019Superdome, Ormoc, Philippines
16Win14–2Toto LanderoUD1010 Nov 2018Sports Complex, Minglanilla, Philippines
15Win13–2Philip Luis CuerdoTKO8, 1:129 Jun 2018Sports Complex, Maasin, Philippines
14Win12–2Jestoni RacomaUD825 Nov 2017Bohol Wisdom School Gym, Tagbilaran, Philippines
13Loss11–2Joey CanoyUD108 Jul 2017IC3 Convention Center, Cebu City, Philippines
12Loss11–1Wanheng MenayothinUD1225 Jan 2017Provincial Stadium, Phitsanulok, ThailandFor WBC mini-flyweight title
11Win11–0Fabio MarfaUD626 Nov 2016Cebu Coliseum, Cebu City, Philippines
10Win10–0Jonathan RefugioUD1016 Jul 2016City Sports and Cultural Complex, Mandaue, Philippines
9Win9–0Florante Condes827 Feb 2016Waterfront Hotel & Casino, Cebu City, Philippines
8Win8–0Crison OmayaoTKO2, 2:3028 Nov 2015Hoops Dome, Lapu-Lapu, Philippines
7Win7–0Mark Anthony Florida7, 3:0028 Jun 2015City Cultural Sports Center, Canlaon, Philippines
6Win6–0Ryan RalozoTKO1, 2:1530 May 2015City Cultural and Sports Center, Dapitan, Philippines
5Win5–0Rodante SuacasaTKO1, 1:597 Mar 2015Freedom Park, Malaybalay, Philippines
4Win4–0Rez PadroganeKO2, 1:3618 Jan 2015Gaisano Country Mall Parking Lot, Cebu City, Philippines
3Win3–0Jomar Cenita2, 0:3718 Dec 2014Molo Covered Gym, Iloilo City, Philippines
2Win2–0Christian Solatorio1, 2:3017 Sep 2014Agoho Tiger Boxing Club, Mambajao, Philippines
1Win1–0Michael Camelion413 Jul 2014ACSAT Gymnasium, Carmen, Philippines

Titles in boxing

Major world titles:
Regional titles:
  • OPBF mini-flyweight champion

Awards and recognition