Via Huck Allen: Canelo Alvarez and WBC cruiser class champion Ilunga Makabu posed for photos with the media on Thursday as the two meet at the WBC’s convention in Mexico ahead of a possible match in the first half of 2022.
Instead of potential fighters, smiling Canelo (57-1-2, 39 KOs) and Makabu (28-2, 25 KOs) look like best friends as they shake hands and hug in the middle. stage.
Canelo, 5’7 ″, wants to add a 5th place world championship to his evidence and he feels 34-year-old Makabu is the perfect opponent for him to get there.
Makabu 6’0 ″ says Canelo, 31, is making the mistake of being promoted to cruiser to challenge him, and that he will take him down when the time comes.
Currently, Makabu has received huge winds from boxing fans, media and boxers because Canelo chose him as his next opponent. Makabut might not be too pleased to hear them refer to him as the “weakest link” in the cruiser class.
It was essential that Makabu put a lot of effort into this fight to dispel the notion that he would give Canelo his title of WBC cruiser out of gratitude for being chosen for the hefty salary.
Some boxing fans believe former WBO light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev sparred with Canelo to show his gratitude for being given the opportunity to earn $10 million+. Kovalev passively fought the entire battle, and many fans felt that he purposely took Canelo down.
Makabu vows to defeat Canelo
“I feel good because I always want this to happen to fight at my best,” Ilunga Makabu told Little Giant Boxing Thursday at the WBC convention when talking about his fight with Canelo.
“Canelo is the best fighter on the planet, and I want to fight here in Mexico. Why do I want to fight in Mexico? Because I have a lot of fans in Mexico.
“I will be there to face Canelo. I’m happy for the respect he has for me, and I respect Canelo too, and that’s very important. I’m pretty sure everyone will see a great game and it’s going to be great for both of us.
“He made the mistake of coming to the cruiser class. I will take Canelo out of the business,” said Makabu.
The power of the punch will favor Makabu in this fight, but he’s easy to hit and isn’t nearly as skilled as Canelo.
During Makabu’s third-round loss to Tony Bellew in 2016, he stupidly stepped back in front of the rope and let the British boxer bombard him with shots to equalize. If Makabu makes the same mistake with Canelo, he won’t last long.
