Melvin Jerusalem sweated it out on the heavy bag, unloading crisp and whistling punches whose impact resonated in every corner of the Elite Boxing and Muay Thai Gym in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.

It's still a full week left before his highly-anticipated rematch against Japanese fighter Yudai Shigeoka but the defending World Boxing Council (WBC) minimumweight champion is already looking sharp during his sendoff training on Thursday, March 20.

Along with trainer Michael Domingo, Jerusalem went through his usual training routine, although he was noticeably putting more attention in honing his left hook – a weapon he seemingly intends to utilize in his second meeting with former Japanese world champion.

“Naghahanap tayo ng ibang technique kasi binabasa yung strength natin kaya may option tayo,” Jerusalem told reporters who crowded him at the end of his intensive training session that was also attended by his promoter and manager JC Mananquil.

He is confident but, at the same time, not complacent.

"Sa ngayon di pa rin tayo kumpyansa kasi alam naman natin magaling si Shigeoka, pareho yung mga Shigeoka brothers. Pero nakalaban ko na siya sa ibabaw ng ring kaya alam ko na yung technique niya yung style niya—at kahinaan niya,” he said ahead of their March 30 fight at the Aichi Sky Expo in Tokoname, Japan.

Such mentality only suggests that despite being the champion, Jerusalem is not sitting on his laurels even against a fighter he has already beaten before.

And that's certainly understandable for Jerusalem who has set his sight on nothing but a convincing victory unlike their previous bout which ended in a split decision.

“Pinaghandaan namin ni coach ‘to. Alam namin na pag umabot ng (full) rounds, dehado parin yung decision, kaya pinaghandaan namin talaga,” said Jerusalem who is also preparing counter measures to Shigeoka's possible adjustments in their second fight.

“Yung narinig ko is pressure-in daw ako pero mga naka-sparring ko ganun din. Maga-adjust naman tayo sa laban,” he added.

Jerusalem and his team are set to fly for Japan, where he will put on the finishing touches to his preparations, on March 23.

The pride of Bukidnon is aiming to give the PH boxing fans an impressive start to a pair of Filipino versus Japanese title fights as compatriot Pedro Taduran is also set to defend his IBF minimumweight crown in a rematch against another Shigeoka in the younger Ginjiro two months later on May 24.