Taniguchi vs Jerusalem

Who won Taniguchi vs Jerusalem?

Melvin Jerusalem beat Masataka Taniguchi by technical knockout in the 2nd round on Friday 6th January 2023 at EDION Arena Osaka in Osaka.

The fight was scheduled to take place over 12 rounds in the Minimumweight division, which meant the weight limit was 105 pounds (7.5 stone or 47.6 KG).

This contest was for the WBO minimumweight championship of the world.

This fight appeared on the undercard of Daniel Valladares' and Ginjiro Shigeoka's clash for the IBF World Minimumweight championship.

Taniguchi vs Jerusalem stats

Back in January 2023, Masataka Taniguchi stepped into the ring with a record of 16 wins, 3 loses and 0 draws.

Melvin Jerusalem made his way to the ring with a record of 19 wins, 2 loses and 0 draws.

Masataka Taniguchi was the same age as Melvin Jerusalem, at 29 years old.

Taniguchi had a height advantage of 2 inches over Jerusalem. That also extended to a 3-inch reach advantage.

Masataka Taniguchi fought out of the southpaw stance, while Melvin Jerusalem was an orthodox fighter.

Taniguchi was the less experienced professional fighter, having had 2 less fights, and made his debut in 2016, 1 year and 6 months later than Jerusalem, whose first professional fight was in 2014. He had fought 16 less professional rounds, 136 to Jerusalem's 152.

Melvin Jerusalem was ranked number 5 by the WBA, 2 by the WBC, 2 by the WBO and 4 by the IBF in the 105lb division.

Taniguchi vs Jerusalem form

Taniguchi had won 5 of his most recent fights, stopping 4 of them, going the distance once.

In his last fight before this contest, he had beat Kai Ishizawa on 22nd April 2022 by technical knockout in the 11th round in their WBO World Minimumweight championship fight at Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan.

Previous to that, he had beat Wilfredo Mendez on 14th December 2021 by technical knockout in the 11th round in their WBO World Minimumweight championship fight at Kokugikan, Tokyo.

Going into that contest, he had won against Tatsuro Nakashima on 7th June 2021 by technical knockout in the 5th round at Korakuen Hall, Tokyo.

Before that, he had beat Hizuki Saso on 3rd December 2020 by technical knockout in the 10th round at Korakuen Hall, Tokyo.

He had defeated Kai Ishizawa on 21st September 2019 by unanimous decision in their 8 round contest at Korakuen Hall, Tokyo.

Jerusalem had beaten 4 of his last 5 opponents, stopping 2 of them, going the distance twice.

In his last fight leading up to this contest, he had won against Michael Camelion on 24th August 2022 by technical knockout in the 2nd round at Sanman Gym, General Santos City, Philippines.

Previous to that, he had won against Ramel Antaran on 26th February 2022 by unanimous decision in their 8 round contest at Sanman Gym, General Santos City.

Going into that contest, he had defeated Toto Landero on 16th July 2021 by unanimous decision in their 12 round contest at Tabunoc Sports Complex, Talisay City.

Before that, he had beat Jayson Francisco on 17th December 2020 by knockout in the 2nd round at Sanman Gym, General Santos City.

He had been beaten by Wanheng Menayothin on 25th January 2017 by unanimous decision in their WBC World Minimumweight championship fight at Phitsanulok Provincial Ground, Phitsanulok, Thailand.

Activity check

In terms of activity leading into the fight, Masataka Taniguchi had been fighting more than Melvin Jerusalem.

Going to this contest, Masataka Taniguchi had last fought 8 months and 15 days ago, while Melvin Jerusalem's last outing had been 4 months and 13 days ago.

Taniguchi's last 5 fights had come over a period of 3 years, 3 months and 16 days, meaning he had been fighting on average every 7 months and 28 days. In those fights, he fought a total of 45 rounds, meaning that they had lasted 9 rounds on average.

Jerusalem's last 5 fights had come over a period of 5 years, 11 months and 12 days, meaning he had been fighting on average every 1 year, 2 months and 10 days. In those fights, he fought a total of 36 rounds, meaning that they had lasted 7.2 rounds on average.

What time did Taniguchi vs Jerusalem start?

The fighters were expected to ringwalk at around 10:00 AM UTC at EDION Arena Osaka, Osaka, Japan, which was 5:00 AM EST or 2:00 AM PST on the West Coast of America, or 10:00 AM GMT in the UK.

What were the odds on Taniguchi vs Jerusalem?

Masataka Taniguchi was a 1/7 (-710) favourite going into the contest, while Melvin Jerusalem made his way into the ring at 4/1 (+400) with oddsmakers.