South Africa’s Siyakholwa Kuse will challenge reigning WBC Strawweight world champion Melvin Jerusalem at the legendary Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Philippines, on October 24, 2025.
For Melvin ‘Gringo’ Jerusalem (24-3, 12 KOs), it’s business with high stakes: his third defence of the green-and-gold belt, and the second time this year he puts his crown on the line. The Filipino star clawed back the title in 2024 with a gritty split-decision win over Japan’s Yudai Shigeoka, reaffirming his place among the sport’s elite.
But across the ring stands Siyakholwa ‘One Way‘ Kuse(9-2-1, 4 KOs), a fearless South African warrior, multiple-time national champion, and current WBC Silver titleholder. He announced himself on the world stage with a hard-fought majority decision over Beaven Sibanda last year, and now comes armed with ambition – and nothing to lose.
It’s a classic clash of styles: Jerusalem, polished and battle-tested, against Kuse, raw and relentless. The champion’s slick defence will be pushed to the limit by the challenger’s pressure and grit.
For the strawweight division, this isn’t just another title defence – it’s a collision course that could shake up the rankings and crown a new star.
