A NUMBER of boxing fans expressed apprehension when news broke out that Melvin “Gringo” Jerusalem was going to defend his World Boxing Council (WBC) minimumweight crown (105 lbs.) at the Emperor’s Palace in South Africa, the home turf of challenger Siyakholwa Kuse.
Jerusalem barely defeated Kuse in their first meeting at the Araneta Coliseum last October. The decision was unanimous, but a close one in the scorecards of at least two judges who scored it 115-113 for Jerusalem.
Jerusalem was supposed to move past the near scare against Kuse and jump straight to a unification showdown with WBO-WBA Oscar Collazo of Puerto Rico in March.
Jerusalem-Collazo was called off at the last-minute following promotional issues. This was a huge letdown for Jerusalem as he had prepared in earnest for the rematch with Collazo.
Jerusalem found himself settling for a return bout with Kuse on May 16.
Local fight fans sensed a screw job. Jerusalem could have opted for a neutral venue or perhaps a lesser threat given the close fight with Kuse, but the WBC champ readily packed his bags and headed to South Africa.
The rematch was more action-packed, with the fighters exchanging heavy leather in the early rounds.
Jerusalem sustained a deep cut in the second round after a clash of heads and Kuse capitalized by repeatedly targeting it.
Kuse became more aggressive in the second half as Jerusalem struggled to narrow the distance. The cut visibly bothered Jerusalem.
Jerusalem mounted one huge effort in the 11 th round, knocking down Kuse with a huge right hand. Kuse recovered and survived the final round to seal the points victory.
When the smoke of battled cleared, all three judges, including Filipino Jerold Tomeldan, scored the fight for the South African.
To be fair, it was a clear victory for Kuse, who received a huge boost from his countrymen.
Kuse showed up at the official weigh-in mourning the death of his grandmother. He dedicated the win to her.
In dethroning Jerusalem, Kuse (10-3, 4 knockouts) also became the first boxer from the province of Eastern Cape, South Africa, to win a WBC title.
Other world champions from Eastern Cape included Vuyani Bungi (IBF super bantamweight), Welcome Ncita (IBF bantamweight), Mbulelo Botile (IBF bantamweight, IBF featherweight), and Zolani Tete (WBO, IBF bantamweight). Jerusalem’s record sunk to 25-4 with 12 knockouts. The result is costly, as he dropped out of the running for the lucrative unification fight with Collazo.
As things stand, IBF minimumweight titlist Pedro Taduran is the country’s only reigning world champion.
All is not lost for Jerusalem, though.
Manager JC Manangquil had a clever back-up plan for Jerusalem before they accepted the second fight with Kuse.
A rematch clause was inserted in the contract, assuring Jerusalem that he will get another shot at Kuse in the event of a setback in the second meeting.
The scorecard for Jerusalem and Kuse shows 1-1, a victory each for both men. A third meeting will settle the score.
The loss may have pushed back Jerusalem’s grand plans of figuring in a unification showdown with Collazo, but the Filipino can still get back in the race if he beats Kuse in their rubber match.
It is not going to be easy given Kuse’s ring intelligence, but Jerusalem is no stranger to getting back to the win column with a bang.
Not a few thought Jerusalem’s career was headed to skidsville when he lost two fights in a row in 2017, dropping a decision to Thai Chayaphon Moonsri for the WBC minimumweight or strawweight crown and getting upset in 10 rounds by countryman Joey Canoy.
Down on his luck, Jerusalem knocked out Japanese Masataka Taniguchi in two rounds to win the WBO minimumweight crown in January 2023.
Jerusalem lost the WBO strap in May 2023, when he was stopped by Collazo in seven rounds.
Jerusalem bounced back anew in March 2024, beating Japanese Yudai Shigeoka for the WBC minimumweight diadem.
Jerusalem made three successful defenses of the title before yielding the WBC crown to Kuse.
Jerusalem, 32, is definitely gearing up for another big time comeback when he faces Kuse for the third time.