Reigning WBC strawweight champion Melvin Jerusalem will defend his world title against South Africa’s Siyakholwa Kuse in a highly anticipated rematch on Saturday, 16 May 2026 at Emperors Palace in Kempton Park, Gauteng.
The bout headlines a stacked boxing card as Jerusalem takes his title defense into hostile territory against a hungry challenger eager to make history in front of home fans.
Jerusalem announced himself as one of the elite names in the strawweight division in 2024 after capturing the WBC title. Nicknamed “Gringo,” the Filipino champion carries an impressive professional record of 25 wins and three losses.
Known for his composure, ring intelligence, and championship experience, Jerusalem has steadily built a reputation as one of Asia’s top lower-weight fighters.
Kuse, meanwhile, has emerged as one of South Africa’s brightest boxing prospects. The aggressive and high-tempo fighter has earned recognition across the African boxing scene through a series of determined performances that opened the door to international opportunities.
The 22-year-old challenger enters the fight with a 9-3-1 professional record and believes home advantage could help him overturn the result from their first meeting.
Rivalry Renewed
The two fighters first met in October 2025 during the “Thrilla in Manila” anniversary event in the Philippines, where Jerusalem retained his title through a unanimous decision victory after 12 competitive rounds.
Kuse impressed many observers with his speed and aggression, but Jerusalem’s cleaner punching, timing, and championship-round experience ultimately proved decisive. Judges scored the contest 115-113 and 116-112 twice in favour of the Filipino champion.
The rematch now presents Kuse with a golden opportunity to become one of the few South Africans to win a WBC world title on home soil.
Promoters have already described the bout as the biggest fight of the young challenger’s career, while Jerusalem has reportedly intensified preparations by training in Japan before travelling early to South Africa to acclimatise to the altitude in Johannesburg.
Where and When?
The fight will take place on Saturday, 16 May 2026, at Emperors Palace in Kempton Park, Gauteng, South Africa.
How to Watch
The event will be broadcast live on SuperSport.
International Start Times
- Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras — 10:00 am
- United States (ET) — 12:00 pm
- Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Panama — 11:00 am
- Puerto Rico, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Bolivia, Venezuela — 12:00 pm
- Argentina, Uruguay, Chile — 1:00 pm
- Spain — 6:00 pm
- South Africa — 6:00 pm
Undercard Fights
The event will also feature several supporting bouts:
- Ntethelelo Nkosi vs Subusiso Zingange
- Tyla Promnick vs Thobela Nyanda
- Juan Alberts vs Akani Phuzi
- Jose Kadima vs Johnny Muller
- Andre Mulumba vs opponent to be confirmed
With continental pride, a world title, and redemption all on the line, the rematch between Jerusalem and Kuse promises to be one of Africa’s biggest boxing nights of 2026.
