Melvin Jerusalem excited to defend his minimumweight title at the 50th anniversary of the “Thrilla in Manila”

Filipino boxing legend and former senator Manny Pacquiao has secured the support of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for the grand commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the “Thrilla in Manila” this October.

Pacquiao has taken the lead in ensuring the Philippines celebrates the iconic 1975 heavyweight clash between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, with the nation’s top fighters set to gather in a historic card at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on October 29.

Headlining the event is reigning WBC minimumweight champion Melvin Jerusalem, who will defend his crown against Siyakholwa Kuse of South Africa in front of his home crowd.

“Dako ako pasalamat sa Ginoo nga naa napud opportunity nga gihatag sa akoa nga moaway atubangan sa akong mga kababayan. Nagpasalamat sab ko og dako sa mga tawo nga nisuporta para madayon ni nga dula labi na ni boss Manny Pacquiao, sir Sean Gibbons, ug sa akong ZIP/Sanman team,” Jerusalem said.

The 30-year-old enters the bout in prime form after a commanding performance on September 22, when he successfully defended his title against Mexican challenger Luis Castillo at Manny Pacquiao MP’s Blow-by-Blow event in Mandaluyong. Jerusalem handed Castillo the first loss of his career in 22 fights, while also notching his 23rd career victory (12 by knockout).

Mdantsane’s Siyakholwa Kuse has a date with destiny when he challenges Melvin Jerusalem for his world title in Manila on 29 October.
We need a boxing world champion. Let’s get behind the pride and joy of Buffalo City. pic.twitter.com/BerZPpUamk

— Wayne Sussman (@waynesussman) August 29, 2025

That win marked Jerusalem’s first successful defense of the WBC belt, which he claimed via split decision against former champion Yudai Shigeoka in Tokyo on March 31. It also snapped a personal drought in title defenses, following his failed attempt to retain the WBO mini-flyweight title in 2023.

The October anniversary event will pay tribute to the unforgettable showdown between Ali and Frazier, where Ali triumphed after Frazier’s trainer Eddie Futch famously refused to let his fighter continue, telling him: “Sit down, son. Nobody will forget what you did here today.”

In addition to Jerusalem’s title defense, Filipino fight fans can expect a stacked undercard featuring two-division world champion Marlon Tapales, Olympic bronze medalist Eumir Marcial, unbeaten super bantamweight prospect Carl Jammes Martin, and even Nico Ali Walsh, grandson of the late great Muhammad Ali.

The event promises to be both a celebration of Philippine boxing’s rich history and a showcase of its bright future.

OKBET is Asia’s most trusted and popular online sports gaming platform. Visit us on OKBET to stay up to date with all sports news from around the world.