Melvin Jerusalem vs. Siyakholwa Kuse Prediction on October 29, 2025

Match info

This is a world championship bout at strawweight (also known as minimumweight/mini-flyweight, ≤105 lbs) division, with Filipino Melvin Jerusalem defending the WBC (World Boxing Council) world title. It headlines the “Thrilla in Manila – 50th Anniversary” show at the iconic Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines, adding historical prestige to an already meaningful title defense – on October 1, 1975, Muhammad Ali fought Joe Frazier, in the bout billed as the Thrilla in Manila, which was the third and final professional boxing match between undisputed champion Ali, and former champion Frazier, for the heavyweight championship of the world.

The WBC and Ring Magazine list it as Jerusalem’s next defense, with Kuse coming in as a rising South African challenger. The fight is scheduled to start on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, with the card listed to start around 5:00 p.m. PST (17:00 Philippine Standard Time, local time) – main-event ring walk typically follows later in the evening.

Meeting statistics

Current form & playstyle: Melvin Jerusalem

“Gringo” enters as a seasoned and compact pressure boxer who’s grown into his belt with composure. His record and recent defenses suggest a fighter who trusts his feet to set range, then mixes brisk two- and three-punch sequences, especially the right cross after a short jab step. He’s not a one-shot artist at 105 lbs; instead, he stacks scoring moments and gradually breaks rhythm with pace and body touches.

The WBC bills this as his third title defense, and Jerusalem’s profile shows durability, a 50% KO rate, and recent top-level 12-round experience—ingredients that suit a champion comfortable over the distance.

Current form & playstyle: Siyakholwa Kuse

Kuse arrives with momentum—a six-fight winning streak—and the energy of a 22-year-old challenger who believes in activity and tempo to upset a home champion. South African reports frame this as a dream shot, and his ledger indicates a fighter who builds into bouts behind volume more than pure power (KO% in the low 30s).

Expect the WBC silver mini-flyweight title holder to probe early, then surge in the mid-rounds with bursts and quick resets, trying to make exchanges messy and win swing frames on work rate. The key question: can Kuse keep shape and accuracy against Jerusalem’s steadier feet and championship seasoning?

Head-to-head

There’s no previous professional meeting on record between Jerusalem and Kuse; this is their first bout.

Match analytics

Jerusalem is a strong favorite — the odds of boxing and MMA betting sites indicate he’s heavily favored to win. He has more rounds of world-title experience, a recent solid run of wins, and is fighting at home for this defense. Kuse, while youthful and with momentum, is still relatively inexperienced at the world title level and will likely struggle to match Jerusalem’s pace and precision over 12 rounds. According to previews, Jerusalem is expected to control the range, apply steady pressure, and win by points rather than face too much risk of stoppage.

Tip: Jerusalem by unanimous decision is the most probable outcome. While a knockout isn’t impossible given his power in this division, it’s less likely against a challenger who knows his way around 12-round fights. So far, online betting sites with boxing markets, such as Mostbet, have only money-line (match-winner) odds released, but look further in the days closer to the fight for more bets on offer.