Melvin Jerusalem travels to hostile territory in a high-risk defense of the World Boxing Council (WBC) strawweight crown against South African Siyakholwa Kuse on 16 May in Johannesburg.

The fight to be staged at the Emperor’s Palace in Johannesburg will be a rematch since they had fought each other in late-October during the 50th anniversary of the Thrilla in Manila.

Jerusalem beat Kuse on points in that competitive bout and the Filipino will have to put on a much better performance if he intends to return home with the WBC belt still strapped around his waist.

He was hoping to face Puerto Rican two-belt holder Oscar Collazo this 14 March in California but just two days after a deal was reached, the promoters scrapped the match owing to promotional issues.

The decision left Jerusalem heartbroken since he had been training like never before thinking that he would avenge his 2023 loss to Collazo.

Kuse, who has a 9-3-1 win-loss-draw record with four knockouts, will be tougher to beat on home soil as evidenced by his solid showing against Jerusalem at the Araneta Coliseum.

Jerusalem, parading a 25-3-0 mark with 12 knockouts, believes he can get the job done so his dream of meeting Collazo can happen next.