Emperors Palace, Johannesburg
This morning, South Africa wakes up with a new WBC world champion. On a landmark night at Emperors Palace, Siyakholwa “One Way” Kuse completed his ultimate journey to redemption, defeating Melvin “El Gringo” Jerusalem via unanimous decision to capture the WBC Minimumweight World Championship.
The writing was on the wall for those who listened closely during the buildup to this historic bout. In the days preceding the fight, both Kuse himself and South African boxing icon Brian Mitchell boldly predicted this exact outcome. “I am becoming the new champion,” Kuse stated resolutely during his camp, noting that having tasted the championship distance once before, the stage fright was gone. Mitchell echoed the sentiment with unshakeable confidence: “I’m going Siya Kuse as the new WBC world champion.” Last night, in front of an electric home crowd, the 22-year-old from the Eastern Cape delivered on that promise.
A Tactical Masterclass
Billed as “One Way to Redemption,” the fight was an immediate rematch of their October 2025 clash in Manila, where Jerusalem retained his title by a narrow unanimous decision. This time, Kuse came in with adapted tactics, heightened maturity, and a home-country advantage.
The tide of the fight turned early when Jerusalem suffered a severe cut around the second or third round due to an accidental clash of heads. Showcasing brilliant ring IQ, Kuse ruthlessly exploited the injury. He masterfully utilized his reach advantage to piston a sharp, relentless jab directly onto the cut. The ensuing blood flow severely hampered the Filipino champion’s vision and allowed Kuse to control the distance and dictate the tempo of the middle rounds.
Championship Heart in the Late Rounds
Despite the damage, the defending champion refused to surrender his belt quietly. In a dramatic shift in the 11th round, Jerusalem marched forward as the aggressor, uncorking a perfectly timed counter right hand that sent Kuse crashing to the canvas. A sudden hush fell over Emperors Palace as the fight’s momentum hung in the balance.
However, Kuse demonstrated true championship resolve. He quickly beat the referee’s count, gathered his bearings, and navigated the remainder of the round. In the 12th and final frame, Kuse deployed solid footwork and disciplined counter-punching to neutralize Jerusalem’s desperate attempts for a knockout, steering the ship safely to the final bell.
OFFICIAL SCORECARDS
Judge 1 116-111 (Kuse)
Judge 2 116-112 (Kuse)
Judge 3 115-112 (Kuse)
Records
Post-Fight Kuse: 10-3-1 | Jerusalem: 25-4
Joining the Immortals
With the unanimous decision victory, Kuse has not only secured the biggest win of his career but has also etched his name into an incredibly exclusive roll of honor. He becomes the first boxer from the Eastern Cape to capture a WBC world title and joins the legendary ranks of Dingaan “The Rose of Soweto” Thobela, Thulani “Sugarboy” Malinga, and Kevin “The KO Kid” Lerena as one of the few South Africans to hold outright WBC world championship status. Fittingly, Malinga was seated ringside to witness Kuse’s induction into this elite club.
The gravity of the evening was further underscored by the presence of WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman, making his first-ever visit to the African continent. Sulaiman noted that the monumental bout was a cornerstone of the WBC’s ongoing “Year of Africa” initiative, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the historic “Rumble in the Jungle.”
As the sun rises over South Africa today, the nation celebrates a massive triumph for local sports. Golden Gloves’ visionary effort to bring the WBC title fight to home soil has paid the ultimate dividend. Siya Kuse has redeemed himself, claimed the Green and Gold, and proven that the heart of South African boxing beats stronger than ever.
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