JERUSALEM DEFEATS KUSE BY UD, RETAINS WBC CROWN; MARCIAL WINS
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 30 Oct 2025
In a night of Philippine boxing celebration, the 50th-anniversary edition of the Thrilla in Manila series delivered home-grown triumphs as two local world-class fighters claimed victories before a raucous crowd at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Melvin Jerusalem successfully defended his World Boxing Council (WBC) minimumweight title in a hard-fought bout against South African challenger Siyakholwa Kuse. Jerusalem, the Filipino champion, edged Kuse via unanimous decision after 12 rounds.
Judges Jun Bae Lim and Zanashir Taznaa scored 116-112 while Samantha Bulner had it 115-113 all in favor of the Bukidnon born Jerusalem.
The contest began on a cautious note with Kuse landing early combinations and forcing Jerusalem onto the back foot — but the Filipino looked stronger as the rounds wore on. In round ten, Kuse was visibly rocked by a flush right from Jerusalem, who then surged in the final rounds to secure the win.
Top Photo: WBC champ Melvin Jerusalem (L) connects with a left at Siyakholwa Kuse of South Africa during their world title fight Wednesday night in Manila.
Photos by Jhay Otamias.
Melvin Jerusalem poses with his belt intact and a trophy after weathering Siyakholwa Kuse's challege.
Jerusalem, now with a record of 25-3 (12 KOs), acknowledged the challenge of defending at home and paid tribute to the historic setting of the fight. “This fight means more than just a defense. The occasion, the stage — it all inspires me to be better,” he said afterwards.
Also rising to the occasion was Olympic bronze-medalist Eumir Marcial, who added another milestone to his career. In a featured middleweight bout, Marcial edged veteran Venezuelan knockout artist Eddy Colmenares over ten rounds to claim the vacant WBC International middleweight title via majority decision. Judges Jun Bae Lim and Arnie Najera had it 95-93 for Marcia while Jerrold Tomeldan saw it even at 94-94.
Marcial bags his first professional title after defeating Eddy Colmenares of Venezuela.
Marcial, celebrating his 30th birthday on fight night, said: “Winning this title on this stage, in front of my people, in this moment, it’s everything.” With the pro title now secured, Marcial’s camp is already looking ahead to bigger match-ups in 2026.
The card, staged in honor of the 50th anniversary of the original Thrilla in Manila between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, featured a strong Filipino presence and took place at the very venue of the historic 1975 clash.
The mixed-bag of tradition and ambition on display reinforced the Philippines’ role in the global boxing scene, particularly in the lighter divisions, while also showing a clear pathway for emerging local talent.
For Jerusalem, the victory keeps his WBC crown secure and positions him for potential unification talks or high-profile defenses in 2026. For Marcial, the newly-won international belt opens up new opportunities in the middleweight ranks and signals the start of his evolution as a professional.
Fans and pundits alike will be watching how the momentum from this card is translated into future fights, particularly whether Philippine champions can convert domestic success into international acclaim.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.
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