Ilunga Makabu discusses possible fight with Canelo Alvarez!
Recently, trainer Eddy Reynoso declared Canelo Alvarez (57-1-2, 39KOs) will move up to cruiserweight and challenge WBC champion Ilunga Makabu (28-2, 25KOs) in May. The unexpected announcement took place at the WBC convention in Mexico. The announcement took everyone by surprise, which was met with tons of opinions.
One reaction was praise of Alvarez seemingly seeking out a major challenge against a significantly bigger man. Others saw many fans and pundits rightfully dismissing this bout due to Makabu being severely inactive. Furthermore he is also considered the weakest champion at cruiserweight. This comes a week after being called out by perhaps the best and most accomplished fighter currently at in the division IBF champion Mairis Bredis (28-1, 20KOs).
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THE CHAMPION SPEAKS!
Talking to Little Giant Boxing, the WBC champion made it clear he’s willing and ready to face the Mexican superstar anywhere.
“Firstly, I’m very happy to face Canelo. I don’t have any problem to face Canelo and I would like to say good luck to Canelo for coming to the cruiserweight division. The best boxer on the planet, I would like to fight. If he accepts to say yes to fight, the fight can happen no problem.”
On possibly facing Canelo in his home country of Congo:
“Everything is possible. If Canelo wants the fight to happen in Congo, it’s my country, it’s a big jungle, yes let’s make it. I’ll fight Canelo everywhere he says, everywhere he wants. I’ll fight him. No matter where America, Mexico, front of everyone, I’m able to make.
“Good luck to fight the champ, Ilunga Makabu. Welcome to choose this division of cruiserweight. But you’re a tough man, you’re the best and you’re meeting the best!”
If this fight does indeed happen, it will be viewed as nothing more than a easy path to becoming a five-weight world champion for Alvarez. Not to discredit and totally dismiss Ilunga Makabu, however the facts are he hasn’t fought since December 2019. Then, he stopped Olanrewaju Durodola in his first title defense.
So, while Canelo Alvarez will officially go down in the history books as five-division world champion, if he wins, there will always be an asterisk by the accomplishment. For what it’s worth, at least the Congo native seems confident and enthusiastic about the opportunity to shock the world by beating the face of boxing.
By: Jerrell Fletcher
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