Jerusalem Retains Title by Decision in The Thrilla in Manila 2
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Quezon City, Philippines (October 31st, 2025)– In the main event of ‘The Thrilla in Manila 2’, on the 50th anniversary of Ali versus Frazier in Manila, on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, in the same ring as Ali-Frazier 50 years ago, at Araneta Coliseum, Barangay Cubao, in Quezon City, Philippines, as predicted, Melvin Jerusalem, 25-3 with 12 knockouts, Manolo Fortich, Philippines, retained the WBC Minimumweight World championship by 12 round unanimous decision over southpaw WBC Silver Minimumweight champion Siyakholwa Kuse, 10-2 with four knockouts, Eastern Cape, South Africa.
Jerusalem came forward in the first half of the bout, winning rounds on aggression, with Kuse backing up as the counterpuncher. The pace slowed, with a great deal of holding in rounds eight and nine, as Jerusalem began to slow down. The two fighters eventually wrestled each other to the floor in a clinch. The fighters boxed evenly in the center ring in rounds 10, 11, and 12. Kuse won some of the second half rounds on the scorecards, making the bout closer than it should have been on the scorecards. Jerusalem landed his best punch, a solid right hand to the chin of Kuse, at the end of round 10.
Both fighters put it all on the table in the last two championship rounds, when it became apparent that both fighters were in top condition. Kuse also slipped many punches. While throwing a furious combination near the end of round 11, Kuse was throwing so hard he fell to the canvas, swinging away. Both fighters tumbled to the canvas while swinging away in round 12. Kuse remained dangerous enough to pressure Jerusalem into go-to-toe-toe exchanges. Kuse tried fighting Jerusalem off the ropes rope-a-dope style. When he left the rope, he got staggered by a left just before the final bell, walking in.
Result: Melvin Jerusalem Win 12 Siyakholwa Kise, Minimumweights
Jerusalem retains the World Boxing Council World Minimumweight title.
Scoring: 116-112, 116-112, 115-113 for Jerusalem. Referee: Cesar Castanon Varela
Thrilla in Manila 2 Undercard Results
Eumir Felix Marcial, 7-0 with five knockouts, Las Vegas, Nevada, by way of Zamboanga City, Philippines, outpointed Venezuelan Super Welterweight champion Eddie Colemares, 11-3 with 11 knockouts, El Tigre, Venezuela, by majority 10-round decision in a minor upset, to win the vacant World Boxing Council International Middleweight title. Scoring went 95-93, 95-93 Marcial. 94-94 draw. Marcial was down in rounds 3 and 10, 10-8 rounds for Colemares, to make the bout interesting and close.
Undefeated Philippines super bantamweight southpaw Carl Martin, 27-0 with 20 knockouts, Las Vegas, Nevada, by way of Metro Manila, Philippines, as predicted, won by 10 rounds decision over Aran Dipaen, 22-4 with 18 knockouts, Khon Koen, Thailand. Scoring went three different ways: 98-90, 98-91, and 97-92, all for the 27-0 Martin. Martin went down in round three, Dipaen went down in round 10 but survived.
Arvin Magramo, 13-2-1 with 11 knockouts, Metro Manila, Philippines, retained the World Boxing Council International Flyweight title by a 10 split decision over Berland Robles, 12-1-1 with five knockouts, Cebu City, Philippines. Scoring: 96-93, 95-94 Magramo. 95-94 Robles. The bout turned when Robles was deducted a point in round 10 for excessive holding. Without the point deduction, the bout would have ended in a draw.
Albert Francisco, 14-1-1 with 10 knockouts, Metro Manila, Philippines, fought to an eight-round draw with Ramel Macado Jr., 10-1-1 with five knockouts, Cebu City, Philippines, in a bout for the regional and still vacant WBC International Flyweight title. Scoring: 77-75 Francisco. 76-76, 76-76 draw. Scoring appeared neutral and fair.
Muhammad Ali’s grandson, middleweight prospect Nico Ali Walsh, 11-2-1 with five knockouts, Las Vegas, Nevada, fought to an eight-round draw over Kittisak Klinson, 10-2-1 with six knockouts, Bangkok, Thailand. Scoring: 77-75 Klinson. 76-76, 76-76 draw. Scoring appeared neutral and fair.
As predicted, in a bout fought at featherweight, former WBO Bantamweight and IBF Super Bantamweight Marlon Tapales, 40-4 with 21 knockouts, Kapatagan, Philippines, scored a fifth-round knockout over southpaw Fernando Toro, 11-2 with nine knockouts, Los Teques, Venezuela. Tapales is ranked fifth worldwide at super bantamweight. The time of the knockout was 1:41 in the sixth round. Referee: Nowel Haduca.
As predicted, lightweight prospect Ronerick Ballesteros, 6-0-1, Malasiqui, Philippines, stopped Speedy Boy Acope, 6-2 with four knockouts, Cebu City, Philippines, at 0:50 of the fifth round, to win the Philippines Games & Amusement Board Youth Lightweight title. Acope was down in round 2 and down again in round 5. Referee Sammy Bernabe Sr. waved the bout off.
As predicted, Eman Bacosa, 7-0-1 with four knockouts, General Santos City, Dadiangas, Philippines, won a six-round decision to open the card, over Nico Salado, 2-2-1 with one knockout, Duero Bohol, Philippines. Salado was down in the fourth round. Scoring went 60-53, 58-55, 58-55 for Bacosa.
Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza-Araneta Marcos, and card promoter Manny Pacquiao were at ringside for ‘The Thrilla in Manila 2’ boxing card.
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