Siya Kuse could challenge for the WBC minimumweight championship before year’s end.
This was the word from Rodney Berman early this week following champion Melvin Jerusalem’s dominant title defence against top contender Yudai Shigeoka in Japan at the weekend.
The Filipino had gone into the fight having committed to defend against the South African – if he prevailed against Shigeoka.
“He made the undertaking to Gabriel Elorde, our agent, that his next defence would be right here, in South Africa, against Kuse,” said Berman. “I’m hoping he will keep to that undertaking. We are very bullish about Kuse challenging [for the title] before the end of the year.”
Which puts a decidedly dangerous spin on Kuse’s next outing, scheduled for May 31 when he fights Samuel Salva on “The Coronation” card at Emperors Palace.
Any slip-up by the third-ranked South African would torpedo his chances of landing the WBC title bout against Shigeoka.
In winning at the weekend, Jerusalem showed no fears of hitting the road for major fights. In winning a clear decision, it was his third successive win on Japanese soil and ran his record to 24-3.
There was little drama in the 12-round rematch, but the champion was the superior fighter, repeatedly punishing the challenger with hard, vicious combinations that were key to victory.
Kuse, of course, is four months removed from his thrilling points win against Beaven Sibanda.
