South African boxing manager Brian Mitchell is optimistic about positive outcomes when his charge Siyakholwa Kuse challenges Melvin Jerusalem for his World Boxing Council (WBC) strawweight world title.
The former World Boxing Organisation (WBO) champion from Philippines will make his third WBC world flyweight title defence against a highly-regarded Kuse in a historic boxing event at Smart Araneta Coliseum on October 29. Initially, the championship clash was set for an October date in Manila but now the 16,500 seater Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon city will host the much talked about historic event.
Kuse and Jerusalem will trade leathers on the undercard of Mark Magsayo and Michael Magnesi in a WBC junior lightweight final elimination bout.
The blockbuster tournament is promoted by Manny Pacquioa’s Blow by Blow Promotions in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the ‘Thill in Malina’ trilogy fight between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier.
Kuse’s manager Mitchell strongly said the fight would give the Mdantsane born pugilust an international exposure and also he is anticipating positive results. The 25 year-old Kuse gets a world title shot eight months after joining forces with Mitchell as his manager.
Mitchell, a former World Boxing Association world super Featherweight champion and boxing commentator said they are ecstatic about the prospect of challenging the prestigious WBC world title and they were not expecting to happen soo soon.
“This opportunity came quickly for Kuse, we never thought it would happen so soon. As you know he was preparing for an WBC elimination bout but boom this opportunity, came knocking at our door. We are ecstatic, so over the moon that we are getting the opportunity to fight for the prestigious title in the world, the WBC.
“It is a historic event and the mood in the camp is good and Kuse is looking forward to the fight and we do believe he is going to win it. It is eight months now Kuse being with us and never anticipate that a world title shot would happen so quickly, obviously thanks to the relationship between Golden Gloves and Jim (Jim Claude Mananquil, Jerusalem’s manager). Also as Kuse’s manager I would like take a credit for a job well done, obviously without Golden Gloves was not going to happen so quickly and it’s been lots of negotiations,”.
“Kuse who is rated on a second spot on WBC world rankings was scheduled to fight third placed Joey Canoy for number one spot but we have shorten that and we go straight to a world title shot. This is going to be a great international exposure for Kuse and the South African boxing once more,” explained Mitchell.
