EDION Arena, Osaka, Japan. In the main event of the show, the local WBO minimum weight champion (up to 47.6 kg) Masataka Taniguchi (16-4, 11 KOs) lost by knockout to the Filipino ex-challenger Melvin “Gringo” Jerusalem (20-2, 12 KOs). For the guest, it was only the second away match in his career. In the first, he lost to the thin WBC champion Wanheng Menayothin.
Great starting round. The left-handed champion aggressively, but slowly, crushed the more mobile challenger, pinching him at the ropes. Yerusalem shot well, moved great, but was inferior to Taniguchi in striking power. The best episode of the three-minutes for the champion – if not for the ropes, the Filipino might have been on the floor.
Blimey! In the 2nd round, the Japanese ran into a right straight line and ended up on the floor. And then Taniguchi made a fatal mistake. He immediately jumped to his feet, but they let him down – several falls, a drunken walk, and the referee was forced to stop the fight.
@ABEMA https://t.co/SQcBKDXJqE #3150FIGHT #あけましてボクシング pic.twitter.com/kERRbdoTJE
— wynn3939114 (@wynn3939114) January 6, 2023
On the second attempt, Jerusalem became the world champion! Not Japanese today! And we also have the first upset of the year!
Jerusalem TKO 2. He is the only reigning world champion from the Philippines.
Source: https://vringe.com/news/161679-u-nas-novyy-chempion-mira-i-on-iz-filippin.htm?rand=141343
