WBC Minimumweight Champion Melvin Jerusalem Aims for Unification Bout

Melvin Jerusalem, the current World Boxing Council (WBC) minimumweight champion, has declared his intention to face top contenders and unify all the belts in his weight division.

"We will always be prepared and train really hard, so that if a world title unification comes, we'll be ready," Jerusalem stated.

Oscar Collazo, who holds the World Boxing Organization (WBO) and World Boxing Association (WBA) minimumweight titles, is also recognized as The Ring Magazine minimumweight champion. Jerusalem has a history with Collazo, the unbeaten Puerto Rican who dethroned him as WBO champion in 2023 through a seventh-round stoppage.

Another prominent champion in the minimumweight class is Pedro Taduran of the Philippines, who currently holds the International Boxing Federation (IBF) title.

Jerusalem expressed openness to facing either opponent, emphasizing his commitment to rigorous preparation. "I'm willing to fight either of them, if given the chance. I will train harder because I know I'll be facing the best," he said.

Jerusalem recently defended his WBC title successfully on October 29, 2025, during the main event of the "Thrilla in Manila" 50th Anniversary card held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

Praising his 22-year-old challenger Siyakholwa Kuse, Jerusalem remarked, "He was a tough opponent. That's why we should never underestimate our opponent regardless of their record because they too have trained for the fight. I don't know what round I adjusted but it was in the later rounds. In the early rounds, I had a hard time breaking a sweat and I was very sleepy. Our fight started at around 1 a.m. But I don't make that as an excuse. He was a good fighter and he has a good chance of becoming a world champion in the future."

Kuse challenged Jerusalem early in the fight with his rapid speed and swift combinations, but Jerusalem ultimately outmaneuvered him using his experience to close the fight decisively.