Jerusalem not looking past African foe

Melvin Jerusalem doesn’t relish talking about what’s on the horizon even though he is heavily favored to repulse the challenge of his South African rival this Wednesday during the 50th anniversary of the Thrilla in Manila at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The DAILY TRIBUNE caught up with the reigning World Boxing Council (WBC) strawweight titleholder on Sunday afternoon as he was jogging at BGC in Taguig.

“That’s not what I am focused on right now,” said Jerusalem, who makes the third defense of the WBC 105-pound crown against Siyakholwa Kuse at the Big Dome.

Jerusalem swears Kuse is his main worry these days and he would only start thinking about two-belt titlist Oscar Collazo or another fighter the moment he gets things done.

In fact, so determined is Jerusalem to take care of business that he has opted to just stay indoors most of the time even if his entire team is attending a major boxing show the very moment he was doing his roadwork.

“I will just watch in online,” said Jerusalem, whose clash with Kuse will serve as the main event to a night of big-time boxing being staged by Manny Pacquiao’s Blow-By-Blow and MP Promotions in celebration of the golden anniversary of the Muhammad Ali vs Joe Frazier world heavyweight shown that happened on 1 October 1975.

Even making the weight is no longer a concern.

“I was down to 106 pounds yesterday so making 105 is not a problem for me,” he said.

The official weighin takes place Tuesday.

Assuming Jerusalem fends off Kuse, his camp is expected to lobby for a unification match with Collazo, the World Boxing Organization and World Boxing Association champion who has expressed the strong desire to unify in 2026.

But then again, Jerusalem shrugged it off, stressing he has to deal with Kuse first.

“One fight at a time,” he added.

The Thrilla show will also feature a bevy of top Filipino talent, including Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Eumir Marcial against Venezuelan knockout king Eddy Colmenares and super-bantamweights Marlon Tapales and Carl Jammes Martin.

Also seeing action is Nico Ali Walsh, the grandson of The Greatest.