World Boxing Council (WBC) minimumweight champion Melvin Jerusalem has arrived in South Africa ahead of his title defense on May 16, 2026. The Filipino boxer landed in Johannesburg together with his manager Michael Domingo and assistant trainer Dario Luga after a long journey from the Philippines.
Early Arrival for Adjustment
Jerusalem expressed satisfaction with arriving three weeks early, allowing ample time to adapt to local conditions. “It’s good to be here three weeks early, so I have time to adjust to the altitude, weather, time, and place. I’m prepared to do better than our first fight and will make sure to bring back my belt home to the Philippines,” he stated.
Rematch Against Kuse
Jerusalem is set to defend his belt against Siyakholwa Kuse in a world championship rematch. The two previously clashed on October 29, 2025, at the Araneta Coliseum during the “Thrilla in Manila” 50th anniversary show, where Jerusalem won by split decision.
Initially, Jerusalem aimed to unify his title against WBO and WBA minimumweight champion Oscar Collazo in a rematch scheduled for March. However, Collazo chose to fight Jesus Haro instead, leading to the cancellation of that bout. Consequently, Jerusalem opted for a rematch with Kuse.
Jerusalem boasts an impressive record of 25 wins, 3 losses, and 1 draw, with 12 knockouts. Meanwhile, Kuse holds a 9-3-1 record with 4 knockouts.
