Siyakholwa Kuse defeated Melvin Jerusalem by unanimous decision to capture the WBC Strawweight World Championship at Emperors Palace in Kempton Park, Gauteng, South Africa, on Saturday, 16 May 2026.
Kuse made his professional debut in June 2018 with a third-round knockout victory and from the early stages of his career, began building an ascending path in the strawweight division.
The South African captured the Boxing South Africa South African Strawweight Title on three occasions.
On December 3, 2023, “Siya” claimed his first international championship by winning the African Boxing Union straw weight title after knocking out Halid Kalama in the eighth round.
One year later came his first WBC title. In December 2024, Kuse engaged in a true 12-round war against Beaven Sibanda, emerging victorious to win the WBC Silver Strawweight Championship.
His first world title opportunity arrived in October 2025 when he traveled to the Philippines to face Jerusalem for the world title. Despite delivering a strong performance, Kuse lost a close fight that left the door open for a rematch.
That second opportunity finally came this Saturday at home, where the South African did not let the biggest moment of his career slip away.
“I feel extremely happy. When I turned professional, I told myself: ‘I need that Green and Gold belt.’ I saw other champions with WBO, WBA, or IBF titles, but I always wondered why the WBC belt was so special.
”I went after it, today I have it with me, and I couldn’t be happier,” Kuse said after the fight.
The new champion also recalled the uncertainty he experienced following the defeat in the Philippines, thanking the support of his team and promoter Rodney Berman, who promised to bring the rematch to South Africa.
“When I lost in the Philippines, I admit I was afraid of what my promoter might think. But he came to me and said: ‘You fought very well, son, I’ll give you a bonus and we’ll bring that belt to South Africa next year.’ At that moment I didn’t believe it, but Uncle Rodney proved that he keeps his promises.”
Kuse also acknowledged Jerusalem’s quality, although he admitted that this time he had to completely change his mentality inside the ring.
“I want to thank him for coming to South Africa and giving me the rematch. He is a great boxer and I have enormous respect for him. But this time my hunger for victory was so great that I told myself: ‘I can’t respect this man once we are inside the ring.’’
With this victory, Siyakholwa Kuse writes one of the most important chapters in recent South African boxing history and establishes himself as the new world champion holding aloft the prestigious Green and Gold Belt.
SOURCE: WBA
