MANILA, Philippines — Mexican challenger Luis Castillo is just as confident as WBC minimumweight champion Melvin Jerusalem that he’ll win their scheduled 12-round title bout at the Mandaluyong City College gym tonight. They’re both predicting to score a knockout but only one man will walk out of the ring with the belt.
Castillo, 27, is fighting his first Filipino opponent and making his debut on foreign soil. But he’s not worried. Castillo said fans cheering for Jerusalem will only motivate him to dig deeper in bringing the strap back to Mexico. He said it won’t be a battle, it’ll be a war. If it means shedding blood to gut out a win, Castillo said he’s ready to do what it takes. Climate isn’t a problem as he said Manila weather is just like in his Los Mochis, Sinoloa, hometown.
A week ago, Castillo flew into town from Mexico via Japan with manager/trainer Eduardo Montiel whose brother Fernando held the WBO flyweight, WBO superflyweight and WBC/WBO bantamweight titles. Montiel said Fernando, now retired, owns a gym and has become a TV celebrity as a sports commentator. In 2007, Montiel accompanied his brother to Cebu where the WBO superflyweight ruler scored a split 12-round decision over Z Gorres to retain his crown. “I have fond memories of the Philippines,” said Montiel. “I remember the big crowd in Cebu and the warm hospitality.” Montiel made a sign of the cross when he asked how Gorres is, knowing the fighter underwent brain surgery after a bout in Las Vegas in 2009. “He’s a good man, I pray for him, God bless him,” said Montiel.
Jerusalem, 30, is making the first defense of his WBC title. Trainer Michael Domingo said training camp was solid at the Zip SanMan gym in Cebu with Jerusalem sparring tall southpaws like Castillo who has a four-inch reach and 3 1/2-inch height advantage. “Itataya ko ang buhay ko para sa bayan,” said Jerusalem. “Gagawin ko ang lahat upang manalo.” His mother Miraluna, a Del Monte pineapple plantation worker, arrived from Bukidnon yesterday and will be at ringside for the fight. Jerusalem’s father Bienvenido, a single-motor driver who used to pick up passengers for a P10 to P20 fee, died in his sleep at 47 in 2016. Jerusalem’s father told him early in his boxing career that he would someday become a world champion.
Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao broke tradition by offering Castillo a purse higher than Jerusalem although he’s the challenger. Pacquiao is promoting the 14-fight “Blow By Blow” card headlined by the title match. Castillo’s camp attempted to take the bout to Mexico but Pacquiao made an offer that couldn’t be refused. “Blow By Blow” CEO Marife Barrera said Pacquiao insisted for Jerusalem’s first defense to be on home soil. She said “Blow By Blow,” a weekly TV series re-launched by Pacquiao in November 2022, will hold a world title fight at least once a year starting with the Jerusalem defense. It’s Pacquiao’s way to give back to the sport, to Filipino fans and to his country. “Blow By Blow” introduced Pacquiao to fans in the 1990s and is on its third iteration, this time with the ring icon as promoter/producer.
Referee for the fight is Yuji Fujuki of Japan. The judges are Shin Kyoung-Ha of Korea, Stephen Blea of Colorado and Arnulfo Najera of Cebu. The WBC supervisor is Tsuyoshi Yasukochi of Japan.