Siyakholwa Kuse celebrates after defeating Melvin Jerusalem by unanimous decision at Emperors Palace in Kempton Park on Saturday night to become the new WBC Minimumweight Champion of the World. Photo credit: Supplied/Golden Gloves
Eastern Cape southpaw Siyakholwa Kuse has become South Africa’s newest world boxing champion after dethroning Filipino Melvin Jerusalem by unanimous decision at a packed Emperors Palace in Kempton Park on Saturday night. Kuse survived a dramatic knockdown in round 11 to take revenge for his points defeat in Manila seven months ago and claim the WBC green and gold belt.
South Africa has a new world boxing champion. Siyakholwa Kuse, a 22-year-old southpaw from the Eastern Cape, dethroned Filipino Melvin Jerusalem by unanimous decision at Emperors Palace in Kempton Park on Saturday night 16 May 2026 to claim the World Boxing Council minimumweight title. The judges scored the bout 116-111, 116-112 and 115-112 in favour of Kuse, who improved his professional record to 10 wins, 3 losses and 1 draw with 4 knockouts. The victory was also a personal redemption — Kuse had lost to Jerusalem on points in Manila in October 2025 in their first meeting.
A Night to Remember at Emperors Palace
Emperors Palace in Kempton Park was packed to capacity for the occasion, with South African fight fans creating an electric atmosphere that carried Kuse through one of the most testing nights of his young professional career. From the opening bell the home challenger imposed himself on the defending champion, using his southpaw stance and sharp combination work to keep Jerusalem under sustained pressure.
The fight took a significant turn in round three when an accidental clash of heads opened a nasty cut above Jerusalem’s left eye. Kuse, trained by Manny Fernandes and managed by legendary South African boxing icon Brian Mitchell, immediately targeted the wound with sharp jabs and worked the cut expertly throughout the contest. By the halfway point of the fight the South African had established a clear lead on all three judges’ scorecards.
Jerusalem, who had arrived in South Africa three weeks before the fight to acclimatise to the altitude and time difference, refused to go down without a fight. The Filipino champion landed a dramatic knockdown in round 11 that momentarily silenced the Emperors Palace crowd and threatened to swing the momentum of the contest. Kuse, however, showed the heart and character of a true champion — he rose from the canvas, cleared his head and finished the fight strongly, ensuring that the late knockdown was not enough to rob him of the title on the scorecards.
Revenge for Manila
The significance of the victory extends beyond the title itself. In their first meeting at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City in the Philippines in October 2025 — billed as a commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Thrilla in Manila — Kuse had put on a world-class performance only to lose on a unanimous decision. Many ringside observers felt at the time that the South African had been unfortunate, with WBC bridgerweight champion Kevin Lerena among those who questioned whether home advantage had played a role in the verdict. “I thought the fight he had in the Philippines was close. Maybe he was hard done by — home-ground advantage,” Lerena said ahead of Saturday’s rematch.
On Saturday night Kuse left no room for doubt. He outboxed, outworked and outfought the champion on South African soil, delivering a performance that the WBC president Mauricio Sulaimán — who attended the bout in person — described as a historic moment for African boxing.
South Africa’s Second Current WBC Champion
Kuse’s victory gives South Africa two simultaneous holders of WBC world titles — a remarkable achievement for a country that has produced some of boxing’s greatest champions over the decades. Kevin Lerena, the WBC bridgerweight champion, retains his belt while Kuse now holds the minimumweight crown. Lerena had been vocal in his support for Kuse ahead of the fight. “It’ll be nice for him to win because then South Africa has another legitimate world champion,” Lerena said.
The last time a South African had challenged for a WBC title before Kuse’s first attempt was in September 2000, when the legendary Dingaan Thobela stopped Glenn Catley to claim the WBC super-middleweight title. That the wait for a new WBC champion has ended with a 22-year-old from the Eastern Cape, fighting on home soil, in front of a packed crowd at Emperors Palace, makes the story all the more compelling.
The Road Back from Adversity
Kuse’s journey to the world title has not been a straight line. The young Eastern Cape boxer had suffered three professional defeats before Saturday’s victory, including the points loss to Jerusalem in Manila. His willingness to rematch the champion — to travel to the Philippines and fight on enemy territory before bringing Jerusalem back to South African soil — speaks to a competitive hunger and mental fortitude that will serve him well as he begins his reign as world champion.
His trainer Manny Fernandes had described Kuse’s preparation for the rematch as exceptional, with the fighter recording a resting heart rate of 44 at the pre-fight medical — a testament to his physical conditioning. “What does that tell you?” Fernandes said, the number speaking for itself.
What Happens Next
Jerusalem, whose professional record now stands at 25 wins and 4 losses with 12 knockouts, is expected to exercise the direct rematch clause in his contract, setting up what promises to be a compelling trilogy fight. The WBC president’s presence at Emperors Palace and his public praise for both fighters suggests the governing body will be keen to facilitate a third meeting between the two.
For now, South Africa has a new champion. Siyakholwa Kuse — 22 years old, from the Eastern Cape, trained on South African soil — is the WBC minimumweight champion of the world.
Editors Note All fight results and statistics referenced in this article are based on official WBC and Golden Gloves records as at the time of publication on Sunday 17 May 2026.