WBO orders Jerusalem vs. Collazo

By Scott Shaffer

31/01/2023

WBO orders Jerusalem vs. Collazo

The WBO has ordered newly minted 105-pound champion Melvin Jerusalem (20-2) of the Philippines to make his first defense against mandatory contender Oscar Collazo of Puerto Rico. Collazo, only 6-0 as a pro, won a WBO eliminator this weekend, stopping Yudel Reyes (15-2) in the fifth round. The WBO gave the parties just 15 days to negotiate before it moves towards a purse bid. 
 
JAN. 7, 2023: There is a new WBO mini-flyweight champion, lightly regarded Melvin Jerusalem, who got a huge road upset against Masataka Taniguchi at Edion Arena Osaka, Japan. The Filipino Jersualem (20-2) stunned the Japanese audience with a second-round stoppage courtesy of a straight right hand that suddenly floored Taniguchi. The thirteen-month reign of Taniguchi (16-4) ended when he got up on extremely wobbly legs, and the referee stopped the bout. It was reminiscient of Kostya Tszyu's KO of Zab Judah (also in the second round). Jerusalem failed in a 2017 105-pound title fight vs. Chayaphon Moonsri a//k/a Wanheng Menayothin but had no significant wins since then. After a bad run of title fights for Filipino boxers, Jerusalem is now the lone champion from the boxing-crazed nation.