Filipino boxer Melvin Jerusalem's reign as a world champion has ended after losing his World Boxing Council (WBC) minimumweight strap to hometown hero Siyakholwa Kuse in their rematch on May 17, 2026, at the Emperors Palace in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Close Fight from the Start
The bout was tightly contested early on, with both Jerusalem and Kuse vying for momentum. Jerusalem sustained a cut above his left eye in the second round due to an accidental clash of heads. Despite the injury, the Filipino champion continued to apply pressure on Kuse.
However, the South African capitalized on his speed, quickness, and counterpunching to neutralize Jerusalem's aggression. Jerusalem had a significant breakthrough in the 11th round, dropping Kuse with a solid right hand. Yet, the knockdown was insufficient to sway the judges in his favor.
Judges' Scorecards
Two judges scored the fight 116-111, while the third judge saw it closer at 115-112, all in favor of Kuse. With the loss, Jerusalem's record fell to 25-4 with 12 knockouts, while Kuse improved to 10-3-1 with four knockouts.
Avenging a Previous Loss
Kuse avenged his loss to Jerusalem from the previous year. On October 29, 2025, Kuse challenged Jerusalem in Manila and lost by unanimous decision. Jerusalem was aware of the risks of fighting in South Africa but accepted the challenge nonetheless.
Collazo Bout Falls Through
Jerusalem was originally scheduled to face Oscar Collazo, the World Boxing Organization (WBO) and World Boxing Association (WBA) minimumweight king. However, Collazo withdrew from the bout and chose a different path.
Only One Philippine Champion Remains
With Jerusalem's defeat, International Boxing Federation (IBF) minimumweight titleholder Pedro Taduran is now the sole remaining world champion from the Philippines. Jerusalem displayed sportsmanship by posing for a photo with Kuse on social media and congratulating him on winning the belt.
