Boxing

Ilunga Makabu hopes to impress Canelo Alvarez, facing Thabiso Mchunu on Saturday


Via Huck Allen: Ilunga Makabu (28-2, 25 KOs) needs to impress this Saturday night in his WBC cruiserweight title defense against #1 Thabiso Mchunu (25-3, 13 KOs) to continue. compete with Canelo Alvarez on May 7.

Canelo has not said whether he plans to face Makabu next on May 7 over the Cinco de Mayo weekend. However, he and his trainer/manager Eddy Reynoso took the time to go to the WBC convention to ask permission from them to cruiserweight to challenge him.

The idea behind Canelo’s move up to cruiser was to win the fifth-place world champion title. He won’t stay in that weight class.

This will just be a should-do match for 31-year-old Canelo against Makabu, and then he’ll drop to 168 or possibly fight at 175.

34-year-old Makabu will defend her WBC belt this Saturday, January 39, against 33-year-old Mchunu in a rematch at Packard Music Hall in Warren, Ohio.

Seven years ago, Makabu rallied to stop Mchunu in the eleventh round in May 2015. Since that match, Mchunu has been up and down, winning seven while losing three. Recently, Mchunu won and will go into Saturday’s title match against WBC champion Makabu with a three-fight record.

Erik Morales says Canelo takes big risks

“I think it’s a great opportunity for fighters in that weight class,” boxing great Erik Morales told. Against TV Hub on Canelo, possibly to cruiser class on 7 May.

Canelo Alvarez . boxing news and photos

“He is a world champion in four divisions, and he could be the first Mexican and Latino to become world champion in five divisions,” Morales continued of Canelo.

I think it’s something good, but super risky, But it will be worth it. Yes, that’s a big risk. It will be tough, up to 200 pounds. Take a look at the terms they agreed to for the fight.

“Well, I can’t really tell you,” said ‘El Terrible’ Morales when asked if it was true that Canelo was choosing the weakest of the cruiser champions, 34-year-old Makabu, over the good. best or not.

“I don’t know the opponent, and I haven’t seen him fight either. However, he is a world champion, for a reason,” Morales said of Makabu.

It won’t be easy for Canelo if Makabu fights to win over him and is letting go. If Makabu fights like he usually does in throwing difficult shots and pressuring, Canelo 5’8 ″ could lose.

On the other hand, if Makabu fights the way Sergey Kovalev did with Canelo, swooping and throwing with no force on his shots, the Mexican star could win. It’s not clear why Makabu fights like that, but it’s entirely possible.

Leonard believes Alvarez has the tools

“He has the tools and equipment,” said Sugar Ray Leonard, when asked if Canelo could fight in cruiser class. “All of them are here [brains]. It’s like when I’m against [light heavyweight] Danny Lalonde. In fact, I just talked to him today. Donny is here too, and that’s a big step forward.

“I won the title, but then I gave it up because it was too big, too much for me. He just needs to be himself.

“Fight and be smart,” Leonard said of what Canelo must do to succeed in cruiser class. “In boxing, anything is possible, and I wish both of you, good luck,” Leonard said.

Makabu’s size will be the biggest issue for Canelo as he is small and slow looking as he rises to fight at 175th in 2019.

If Canelo can negotiate a weight class with Makabu needing to drop to 190 for the bout, he has a good chance of winning. The rehydration limit will also work on Canelo to weaken Makabu enough for him to win.

That would be a plus for Makabu if he had to deal with the 190 lb captured weight as well as the rehydration limit that kept him from gaining the weight back.




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