Yudai Shigeoka (8-0, 5 KOs) defends his WBC minimumweight title for the first time against Filipino Melvin Jersusalem (24-3, 12 KOs) on the last day of March at the International Conference Hall in Nayoya, Japan. Yudai’s younger brother Ginjiro, also a southpaw, with a record of 10-0, 8 KOs, defends his IBF title against ArAr Andales (14–3, 6 KOs) on the same show. Yudai's amateur record was 82-10, 20 KO’s. He won four national titles, and in 2018, he won the All Japan Boxing Championship at light flyweight. He wanted to compete in the last Olympics, but his weight category was scrubbed, so without further ado, he turned pro.

 

Yudai was looking forward to fighting Panya Pradabsri for the WBC championship, but the veteran Thai fell ill with strep throat and a temperature. So Yudai fought Wilfredo Mendez for the WBC interim title. He knocked down Mendez in the fifth and seventh and Mendez was counted out. Then, Yudai fought and convincingly defeated Panya via unanimous decision. All the more remarkable, because in round five, he fractured both hands, yet persevered to triumph. Still aged twenty six, he’s four years younger than his challenger Jerusalem, who is a former world champion himself.

 

Jerusalem is a former WBO champion at 105 pounds.