Easter Sunday marked the return of Melvin Jerusalem as a world boxing champion.
The 30-year old Filipino boxer became the new WBC minimumweight champion after a split-decision win against Yudai Shigeoka of Japan on Sunday, March 31.
Two judges scored the fight, 114-112, 114-112, in favor of Jerusalem after he knocked down Shigeoka in the third round and in sixth round of the match held in Nagoya, Japan.
Meanwhile, one judge scored the fight, 114-113, for Shigeoka, who suffered his first loss after nine bouts in his professional boxing career.
The victory also put an end to the absence of Filipinos in the line-up of world boxing champions.
Jerusalem, who has a professional record of 22 wins, 12 knockouts, and three losses, earned his first belt after he defeated Masataka Taniguchi of Japan, and became the WBO World Minimum Champion.
However, the reign of Jerusalem came to an end in the same year after a failed title defense against Oscar Collazo of the United States.
