Ginjiro Shigeoka defends his title, Yudai Shigeoka losses

Japan’s Shigeoka brothers put their minimumweight world titles on the line in Nagoya on Sunday (March 31). Both were challenged by Filipino boxers.

Ginjiro Shigeoka (11-0-0-1, 9KO), who owns the IBF minimumweight belt, stopped late replacement Jake Amparo (14-6-1, 3KO) with a body shot in the second round.

However, WBC minimumweight world champion Yudai Shigeoka (8-1, 5KO) was unable to overcome former world champion Melvin Jerusalem (22-3, 12 KO). Jerusalem knocked down the Japanese in both the third and sixth rounds and eventually managed to take the green belt with a split decision (114-112, 114-112, 113-114).

It is interesting to note that Japanese heavyweight champion Mitsuro Brandon Tajima (10-1, 8KO) also fought in the undercard, but he was defeated very easily (79-72, 79-72, 79-72) by ex-cruiserweight Romanian Alexandru Jur (21-5, 8KO).