Melvin Jerusalem is a world champion no more.
The Filipino fighter dropped a unanimous decision loss to South Africa’s Siyakholwa Kuse on Sunday morning at the Emperor’s Palace in the latter’s hometown. Jerusalem lost via scores of 116-112, 116-111, and 115-112.
Jerusalem, who was making the fourth defense of his WBC minimumweight crown, ended up bloodied as he suffered a cut on his left eye due to a clash of heads in the third round. But he soldiered on and got to the finish line like the champion that he is.
Melvin Jerusalem, Siyakholwa Kuse with Early Chess Match
The first half of the fight was a tactical one, a fistic chess match with both men being cautious, each wary of the other’s power. Precise exchanges marked the first six rounds as both fighters looked to find the range and establish a rhythm.
But Melvin Jerusalem started to be the aggressor in Round 6, and it might’ve cost him his championship. With the Filipino on the offensive, Kuse retreated and instead became a counterpuncher, catching the ex-champ with sharp counters almost every time he pressed the action. Kuse also began peppering Jerusalem’s cut, bloodying him up almost every round.
Late Knockdown Not Enough for Melvin Jerusalem
Seemingly baffled by Kuse’s on-point counterpunching, Jerusalem nonetheless got some lease of life in Round 11. The Filipino, still pressing the action, scored a much-needed knockdown, although it looked more like Kuse losing his balance than Jerusalem connecting on a game-changing missile. The challenger got up immediately and appeared neither hurt nor fazed as he continued to control the action.
Perhaps realizing he was down big, Jerusalem went for broke in the final round. Kuse, however, showed some savvy, circling out of danger and using that stiff jab to stop the Filipino in his tracks. After the final bell, Kuse officially got his revenge, as Melvin Jerusalem had beaten him via UD back in October in the undercard of Thrilla in Manila 2.
The victory improved Kuse’s record to 10-3-1. Jerusalem, meanwhile, dropped to 25-3. Crucially, his loss leaves Pedro Taduran as the only Filipino world champion in boxing.
