After losing his world title, Melvin Jerusalem will take some time off to reflect on his future in the sport. Jerusalem lost his World Boxing Council (WBC) minimumweight title to South African Siyakholwa Kuse by unanimous decision on May 16, 2026, at Emperor’s Park in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Rest and Recovery
“I’ll take some time to heal. I’ll rest for now so that I can think about what is best for me,” Jerusalem told SunStar Cebu. He revealed that he suffered three cuts during the fight from apparent headbutts, which affected his performance.
Fight Highlights
Jerusalem dropped Kuse in the 11th round, but it wasn’t enough to sway the judges. Kuse was ahead on all three scorecards: 116-112, 116-111, and 115-112. Despite the judges’ scores, Jerusalem and some fans felt he deserved the win.
“A lot of people said that I won that fight. But for me, it was expected that I would lose if it went the distance,” Jerusalem said. “There was a time that I had a problem with my vision because blood was flowing into my eyes, and I had trouble throwing my punches. But I don’t believe I lost that fight.”
Future Options
At 32 years old, Jerusalem remains a two-time world champion at the peak of his game. Possible next steps include an immediate rematch with Kuse or moving up to the light-flyweight division to target a world title in a second weight class.
Optimism for Comeback
Despite the setback, Jerusalem is optimistic about his return. “I know I will be a champion again, if it is God’s will,” he said. “I will work hard and do my best to come back.”
