Melvin Jerusalem will return home for his next title defense.
It won’t be the title unification he initially sought, or even a clash with a former beltholder. Instead, the reigning WBC strawweight titlist from the Philippines will face first-time title challenger Siyakholwa Kuse. Their bout will take place on a soon to be scheduled date in October in Manila.
Jerusalem, 24-3 (12 KOs), was due to face the former IBF title claimant Daniel Valladares – a solid match-up in the absence of a rematch with the lineal, WBA and WBO champ Oscar Collazo.
However, visa issues prevented Valladares, 31-4-1 (19 KOs), from being able to commit.
Instead, Jerusalem will turn his attention to South Africa’s Kuse, 9-2-1 (4 KOs), who – in addition to his first title bid – will fight on the road for the first time as a pro.
Kuse is riding a six-fight winning streak. The 22 year old from Eastern Cape is coming off a 10-round, unanimous decision over veteran divisional gatekeeper Samuel Salva on May 31 in Kempton Park. Jerusalem will fight in his home country for the first time in 2025.
The two-time strawweight titlist has spent four of his past six bouts on the road. His WBO title reign began with a second-round knockout of Masataka Taniguchi in Osaka, Japan in January 2023. He then lost the belt to Collazo via stoppage after seven rounds in their meeting that May in Indio, California.
Four wins have followed, with Jerusalem keen to avenge that loss. He’s won twice in each of the Philippines and in Japan, where both times he fought Yudai Shigeoka. He lifted the WBC belt in their thrilling first meeting in March in Nagoya, then returned to the region – Tokoname, more specifically – to repeat the feat exactly 52 weeks later. In between came a 12-round, shutout victory over unbeaten mandatory challenger Luis Castillo in September in Mandaluyong City, Philippines.
Those hoping to see Collazo-Jerusalem II will be encouraged that the world’s top two strawweights remain on a similar timeline. Collazo, 12-0 (9 KOs), will defend his unified championship against Jayson Vayson – Jerusalem’s countryman – on September 20 in Indio, California.
