RISING star Melvin Oliva Jerusalem goes after Masataka Taniguchi’s World Boxing Organization (WBO) minimum weight belt on Friday night at the Edion Arena in Osaka, Japan.
It will be Jerusalem’s first shot at a world title.
The fight was originally scheduled on New Year’s Day Sunday but the Japanese organizers agreed to postpone the fight after Jerusalem’s flight was one of those canceled because of the technical glitch at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
“Everything is okay now, I don’t feel any trouble and so far my condition is fine,” the 28-year-old Bukidnon-born fighter told BusinessMirror on Thursday. “I’m not affected with the flight postponement.”
A victory by Jerusalem would ends the Philippines search for a world champion in almost a year.
Jerusalem (19-2 won-lost with 11 knockouts) is coming off a unanimous decision loss to Thailand’s Chayaphon Moonsri on January 25, 2017, in Thailand for the World Boxing Council minimum weight belt.
“I will make sure I become a world champion. This is my second opportunity so I hope I can do it now,” he said.
Taniguchi, also 28 and a southpaw, is 16-3 with 11 knockouts.
Jerusalem is joined by coach Michael Domingo and promoter-manager JC Mananquil of Sanman Promotions.