After spending two weeks at a training camp in Japan as he was preparing for his fight against Siyakholwa Kuse, Melvin Jerusalem from the Philippines is now on his way to South Africa.
The reigning World Boxing Council (WBC) minimumweight champion and his team left his country for South Africa on Tuesday. Arriving just over two weeks before the fight is aimed at making sure that Jerusalem fully acclimatises to the Highveld weather.
The 32-year-old Jerusalem defends his crown against Kuse in a rematch at the Emperors Palace in Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni, on Saturday, 16 May.
Jerusalem, who defeated Kuse on points at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Manila, last October, is on a plane together with trainers Darzz P Luga and Michael Domingo. The Filipino will be trying to make the fourth successive defence when he faces Kuse.
Jerusalem won the WBC title after he dethroned Japanese Shigeoka in March 2024. He then went on to successfully defended the title against Mexican Luis Castillo, Shigeoka and Kuse.
