Sportsman Tony Aldeguer, patriarch of the world-famous ALA Stable, continued to receive congratulatory messages for unknown Filipino boxer Melvin Jerusalem, who had an unsuccessful bid for the World Boxing Council minimum weight crown in Thailand on Wednesday.
Jerusalem, 22, lost on points to unbeaten Thai champion Wanheng Meenayothin, who scored what was described a razor-thin decision over his game and talented Filipino foe.
All three judges picked the Thai champ, with close scores of 115-113, 114-113, 114-113.
“If not for the one-point deduction, the fight would have ended a majority draw,” Aldeguer told the Inquirer on Thursday.
The Filipino corner did not dispute the penalty, but also decried how the Thai champ had been allowed to freely grab and grapple, mainly in the middle rounds, after Jerusalem had clearly won the first two rounds.
Jerusalem finished strong, but it was not enough to erase the edge gained by the Thai champ through the point deduction in the eighth.
It was reported from the fight site that the supervising WBC official has made sure the ninth-ranked Jerusalem would keep his spot, for a possible rematch.
But the most significant appraisal of Jerusalem would come all the way from the United States, courtesy of Lee Bates, international matchmaker and former manager of Timothy Bradley Jr.
“Unknown. Very strong performance by Jerusalem. I would like to see him as a mandatory challenger,” Bates told Tony Aldeguer in a text message.
Continued Gates: “I’m so proud of your fighter. I have never seen him fight before. But for him to step up like this as visitor and being so young. Wow! I’m impressed.”
Bates suggested that a rematch should be held in the Philippines.
Aldeguer welcomed the suggestion, but said an immediate rematch was not possible.
“We doubt if the Thai champion would come here and give Jerusalem a rematch. A rematch is near to impossible unless he is offered more than $100,000. And we don’t have that kind of sponsor because Jerusalem is still unknown here.”
Sorry for that, Aldeguer said, but “we hope to give another in the near future.”
He did not say how much Jerusalem was paid for his sparkling challenge.