Melvin Jerusalem (22-3, 12 KOs) squeezed out a hard fought split decision win on away soil to relieve Yudai Shigeoka (8-1, 5 KOs) WBC minimumweight world title.
Jerusalem becomes a two-time world champion. Japan has become a happy hunting ground for the Filipino, having knocked out Masataka Taniguchi last May in Osaka for the WBO 105 pound belt.
One judge scored in favour of Shigeoka with just a point in it at 114-113. The other two judges had it identical at 114-112 for Jerusalem to give the away fighter the split decision victory.
Jerusalem had Shigeoka on the canvas twice in an otherwise a reasonably close fight. The first two rounds could have gone either way, the judges scoring as such.
Jerusalem had his man on the floor in the third and sixth rounds, which turned out to be the difference for the judges. Two stiff right hands sent Shigeoka tumbling in both rounds.
Despite the disadvantage Shigeoka received in the first half of the fight, he went toe-to-toe with Jerusalem all night. Shigeoka receives his first professional defeat after nine pro bouts. Jerusalem becomes the Philippines only active male world champion.
Yudai’s younger brother, IBF minimumweight champion Ginjiro Shigeoka (11-0-, 9 KOs), defeated late replacement Jake Amparo (14-6-1, 3 KOs) with a second round knockout. Shigeoka sent Amparo to the canvas with a left hook to the stomach. Failing to make the count, the fight ended at 1:15 in the second round. Shigeoka made a successful first defense of his title.
Former WBO bantamweight world champion Tomoki Kameda (41-4, 23 KOs) stopped Mexican Kevin Villanueva (22-5-3, 15 KOs). The Mexican quit on his stool after five rounds in a one way fight.