The best two strawweights in the world are set to run it back.
BoxingScene has confirmed that Oscar Collazo and Melvin Jerusalem are on course to meet again on March 14 at a Southern California location to be determined. The clash will see Puerto Rico’s Collazo, 13-0 (10 KOs) risk his lineal, RING and unified WBA/WBO 105lbs championship, while the Philippines’ Jerusalem, 25-3 (12 KOs) puts his WBC title on the line.
While a venue has yet to be finalized as this goes to publication, BoxingScene has learned that the rematch could land at Honda Center in Anaheim, California.
Their first meeting took place in May 2023 at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, California, roughly three hours east of the targeted SoCal region for the rematch. Collazo defeated Jerusalem via stoppage after six rounds to claim the WBO 105lbs strap, thus ending Jerusalem’s title stay after just five months.
Six successful defenses have followed for Collazo, the 29-year-old southpaw from Villalba. His run has included true championship lineage following his November 2024 knockout of then-unbeaten and long reigning WBA titlist Thammanoon Niyomtrong in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Collazo became the first-ever RING strawweight champion with the win.
He has since added stoppage victories over Edwin Cano Hernandez and Jayson Vayson, both which took place in 2025. All but one of Collazo’s seven major title fights have ended inside the distance. The lone criticism among his remarkable reign was at times landing on lesser opposition, as his handlers have sought activity to help fill the gaps in pursuit of bigger fights.
However, it was always not just a goal but Collazo’s personal mission to fully unify the division.
“That’s the message I want to bring to the lower weight classes,” Collazo previously told BoxingScene. “I want people to watch me and know that as long as we keep succeeding, we can bring the big money to these weights.
“Also that whenever we fight, you’re going to see high level boxing. That’s what I want, for the world to see what we got to offer.”
This will mark an occasion where public demand has been met.
Jerusalem has since established himself as no worse than the second-best strawweight in the world following his abovementioned defeat to Collazo.
Five wins have followed for “El Gringo,” including two over Yudai Shigeoka in Japan to claim and subsequently defend the WBC 105lbs belt. Jerusalem defeated Shigeoka for the first time in March 2024, less than a year after his first meeting with Collazo. He has successfully defended the title three times, including a repeat victory over Shigeoka last March 30 in Tokoname.
In his most recent defense, Jerusalem outpointed South Africa’s Siyakholwa Kuse over 12 rounds atop the Thrilla in Manila 50th anniversary show last October 29 in Quezon City.
Whereas Collazo has been a knockout nearly every time out, Jerusalem has gone the distance in each of his past five starts.
The winner of the March 14 rematch will become the first three-belt titlist in the history of the 105lbs division.
Pedro Taduran holds the lone other piece of hardware at the weight, as he is currently on his second tour as the IBF titleholder. Taduran is due to defend his belt in the U.S. later this spring. Collazo has already publicly expressed interest in potentially facing him to crown the first-ever undisputed strawweight champion, provided he can repeat against Taduran’s countryman.
