Jerusalem faces daunting task

There is a moderate to high chance that Melvin Jerusalem will return home from South Africa in mid-May an ex-world champion.

The Filipino fighter makes the fourth defense of the World Boxing Council (WBC) strawweight title against hometown bet Siyakholwa Kuse on 16 May at the Emperors Palace in Johannesburg.

Jerusalem and his camp opted to accept an offer to travel to Johannesburg after the unification fight with Puerto Rican two-belt titleholder Oscar Collazo set 14 March in Anaheim, California, was scrapped.

The two had fought last October during the country’s celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Thrilla in Manila.

Their fight was the main event and Jerusalem found Kuse a very tough challenger to stop and he had to settle for a unanimous but close decision after scores of 115-113, 116-112 and 116-112.

Still, Jerusalem knows what he will be up against and the factors he has to deal with as he builds up for Kuse.

“I have to be very dominant and will not hesitate to go for a knockout because if the fight goes to the scorecards, the scores might go the other way,” said Jerusalem, who is not giving up meeting Collazo in a three-belt showdown provided that he beats Kuse once again.

Aside from the unfamiliar conditions he will encounter, Jerusalem will have to get used to the altitude.

Johannesburg is 5,750 feet above sea level.

His team, led by promoter JC Mananquil, is planning to send Jerusalem and trainer Michael Domingo to South Africa three weeks before the bout.

Jerusalem has a 25-3 -0 win-loss-draw card with 12 knockouts while Kuse, younger by eight years at 23, sports a 9-3-1 mark with four knockouts.

On paper, it certainly looks like Jerusalem’s reign as WBC 105-pound champion is under real threat.