Gallery Photo Credit: Golden Boy / Chris Esqueda
INDIO, CALIFORNIA—-The odds were not in Melvin Jerusalem’s favor.
If the eyes are the windows to someone’s soul, Melvin’s reveal a story of promise and loss behind his look of anguish.
As the crowd rages on in the brightly lit fluorescent outskirts of the ring, I am behind the curtain that separates fighter—-and human. In a small white tent scattered with the personal belongings of Jerusalem’s team, a deafening silence floods the space.
Jerusalem’s fuzzy, shiny shorts are being folded by familiar face Coach Michael Domingo, put away in an unassuming black backpack and along with it: the hope of victory.
Taking a strong lead in the first two rounds of his first title defense against Puerto Rican Oscar Collazo, a shift in energy took place before the fourth round. Persistently pursuing after Melvin, unfazed and unaffected by any of his moves, Collazo stuck to Melvin like Peter Pan’s shadow.
As Collazo unleashed a deluge of body shots, the lightning quick, blur-like power of Jerusalem was slowly drained. A flame was being extinguished.
By round five you can see Melvin’s acumen weaken. He was shaky and losing his valor. Callozo was not letting up or giving Melvin a chance for air, and the pain was accumulating.
As a Filipino and friend to coach Michael Domingo and Melvin, I found myself breaking an unspoken rule of the press, screaming for Jerusalem to go on. The faceless crowd jeers with every misstep from Melvin, and the few Filipinos in the stands are begging “kuya” to persevere.
Coming off a rough night of sleep and adjusting to the United States for the first time—Melvin threw in the towel by the end of the seventh round. The sun had set on his reign.
I stepped away from the role of the prying journalist, and reached out my hand in genuine, unmitigated support. As I approached Jerusalem’s corner, there was no animosity in the atmosphere. Disappointment, but no hatred.
Jerusalem was the first to approach Collazo. An exemplary sportsman, he congratulated Collazo’s win.
Today, I am reminded of boxing’s brutality. The relentlessness of the ring, and the mercy of the locker room.
Because in the ring, the choice to keep going is a matter of life and death. Give up the belt or give up what could potentially be your life.
FaceTiming family, Melvin reported the loss with his head down. As Coach Domingo folded the once shiny and now blood-speckled trunks, his manager JC Manangquil and the ZIP boxing entourage welcomed him with loving arms. The worst was over.
Belt or no belt, Jerusalem is coming home. Come back stronger, Kuya Melvin.

Photo Credit: Katareena Roska. iPhone 14.
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