THRILLER NIGHT

Though he has been quite successful fighting on hostile ground, Melvin Jerusalem insists there is no place like home.

“I am so excited to be fighting at home and it’s the 50th anniversary of the Thrilla in Manila,” said Jerusalem, who makes the third defense of the World Boxing Council (WBC) strawweight title against Siyakholwa Kuse of South Africa on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

What makes Jerusalem giddy with excitement is the composition of the crowd at the Big Dome and the worldwide audience.

“I feel excited because a lot of VIPs are going to be watching that’s why I am going to put on a great performance,” said Jerusalem, who brings to the ring with a 24-3-0 win-loss-draw mark with 12 knockouts.

In his last bout, Jerusalem outpointed Yudai Shigeoka in Nagoya, the same fighter he had beaten to win the WBC 105-pound plum last year.

But the Bukidnon native swears that he longs for the cheers of the hometown crowd.

In his first defense in September 2024, Jerusalem knocked Mexican mandatory challenger Luis Castillo in the first round en route to a lopsided victory.

“The chants of the home crowd are different. It recharges you and you feel the energy,” he added.

Kuse, who totes a 9-2-1 slate with four knockouts, is out to dethrone Jerusalem.

His challenge is serious given that one of South Africa’s legendary fighters will be in Kuse’s corner.

Former world champion Brian Mitchell, who made over ten defenses of the World Boxing Association junior-lightweight title from 1986-1991, will be a valuable presence on fight night.

Jerusalem and Kuse both made the weight without any trouble, coming in at 104.8 pounds.

The undercard is stacked.

Seeing action are Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Eumir Marcial, leading super-bantams Carl Jammes Martin and Marlon Tapales and even Nico Ali Walsh, the grandson of Muhammad Ali, who fought Joe Frazier to a bloody 14-round war on 1 October 1975.

Marcial faces Venezuelan Eddy Colmenares while Martin meets Arian Dipaen of Thailand and Tapales squares off with Fernando Toro, also from Venezuela.

Manny Pacquiao’s Blow-By-Blow is staging the event with the International Boxing Association and the Philippine Sports Commission as main partners.