Badou Jack stops Ilunga Makabu in round 12 to win 200 pound title
Badou Jack is the world champion again at the age of 39.
The former 168-pound owner and 175-pound competitor knocked out rival Ilunga Makabu in the 12th and final round to claim Makabu’s 200-pound WBC belt on Jake Paul-Tommy Fury on the Grandmaster. Japan in Saudi Arabia.
Jack (28-3-3, 17 KOs) dominated Makabu (29-3, 25 KOs) from the start, beat him, knocked him down, knocked him out twice (in Rounds 4 and 11) and finally stop him.
The end came when Jack injured the fading Makabu with his right hand and then a series of blows that caused the referee to stop the match at 54 seconds of the final round.
Makabu fought aggressively and unleashed his punches. However, the quicker, more polished Jack became, the cleaner his shots were evident and almost always a step ahead of his 35-year-old opponent.
Jack held the 168-pound belt in the mid-2010s. He also held the WBA’s “regular” 175-pound title, which Boxing Junkie didn’t realize.