Trilogy looms between Jerusalem and new world champion Kuse

MANILA, Philippines – Melvin Jerusalem gave South African Siyakholwa Kuse a rematch and paid the price. Now, it will be the Filipino’s turn to ask for a third fight to determine who is the better fighter between them.

Jerusalem, whose record dropped to 25-4 (12 knockouts) after his unanimous decision loss to Kuse last May 16, need not despair as he’s likely to get the chance for a decider.

JC Manangquil, Jerusalem’s promoter, said there’s a rematch clause for the fight, and they will avail of it. In neutral territory, preferably.

That’s after Kuse won on home turf as he wrested the World Boxing Council minimumweight crown from Jerusalem at the Emperors Palace in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Jerusalem dropped Kuse with a hard counter right in the 11th round, but the hometown icon beat the count and exacted revenge over Jerusalem via unanimous decision, 116-112, 116-111, and 115-112, to claim the 105-pound belt.

Last October 29, Jerusalem bested Kuse, also by unanimous decision (116-112, 116-112, and 115-113) at the Smart Araneta Coliseum to keep the title he took from Japanese Yudai Shigeoka in March 2024.

Jerusalem got bothered by a nasty cut in the left eye from the second round following an accidental clash of heads and was susceptible to Kuse’s jabs in the second half of the 12-rounder.

Aware that he’s behind on the scorecards, Jerusalem went all-out in the last round, but Kuse fended off his assault with counters to become South Africa’s newest world champion. – Rappler.com