Melvin Jerusalem is not yet in panic mode.
But the World Boxing Organization minimumweight king is already doing something to address his dilemma.
You see, Jerusalem is slated to make a mandatory defense of the WBO 105-lb throne against Puerto Rican Oscar Collazo on 27 May in Los Angeles.
The Filipino champion is ready to rumble.
But there’s a little bit of a problem.
Well, actually, a big problem.
When I spoke to him over the weekend, Jerusalem expressed his desire to hurdle his initial defense and return home with the WBO belt still strapped around his waist.
But here’s the thing.
His visa travel documents have yet to be released, preventing Jerusalem from catching the first available flight to the US where he will spend the tail-end of his buildup.
“I have started adjusting (to the time zone),” Jerusalem said.
“I have actually changed my sleeping habits,” said Jerusalem, who snatched the WBO plum in early January with a one-punch second-round knockout of Masataka Taniguchi at the EDION Arena in Osaka.
The shortest training he did on US soil was about three weeks.
Ideally, those coming from the Philippines — which is 15 hours ahead of the US West Coast — need a lot of time to adjust to the time.
Boxers, especially, have to be there way ahead of a big fight.
During his heyday, Manny Pacquiao even sets up camp in America eight weeks before a fight.
The shortest training he did on US soil was about three weeks.
But normally, the eight-division champion did train there no later than a month before a scheduled bout.
Jerusalem said he would love to leave the soonest.
“Hopefully, I can leave two weeks before the fight,” he said from his Cebu City camp.
Yeah, Jerusalem is not about to press the panic button with 17 days remaining before his clash with the unbeaten Collazo.
But pretty soon, he would be if he doesn’t get his papers in the next few days.
Keeping fingers crossed that Jerusalem gets to leave within the week.
