Via Jim Calfa: WBC Weightlifting Champion Ilunga Makabu (29-2, 25 KOs) warned that he will knock out Canelo Alvarez if he dares to move up to the weight division to challenge him for his title next May.
Makabu took care of the final hurdle blocking his path to a lucrative fight against superstar Canelo last Saturday night with a decisive round 12 win over his WBC mandatory challenger. It’s Thabiso Mchunu (March 26, KO) at Packard Music Hall, Warren, Ohio.
The score is 116-112, 115-113 for Makabu and 115-113 for Mchunu. While some boxing fans believe that 33-year-old Mchunu has done enough to deserve the win, two of the referees think Makabu has done enough to keep his WBC belt.
Makabu, 34, said he chose to hit Mchunu rather than use his strength to try to score by knockout because he wanted to prepare for the fight with Canelo. WBC champion Makabu felt that his match against Canelo would involve a lot of boxing, so he wanted to practice with Mchunu.
Canelo (57-1-2, 39 KOs) opted out of the match and he did not offer any comment on whether he plans to face Makabu next. I
Makabu warns Canelo
“I will knock him down,“Makabu said in his post-match press conference last Saturday night when talking about Canelo.
“Did you hear what he said? He said he would take him down,” said Makabu promoter Don King echoing what Ilunga had told him about his plans for Canelo. “Knock out, that’s what he said.
“That’s a big mistake he’s making,” Makabu said of Canelo calling him cruiser class. “He wanted to play and make a big joke with boxing. Boxing is a dangerous game.
“If you [Canelo] up to cruiser rank, he’ll be taken down very badly. That’s what I can tell you. I can hit the box, I can knock out. Canelo, if he thinks he’s a tough fighter, he’s making a big mistake.
“We came to box [against Mchunu] because the next fight between me and Canelo, it has to be boxing,” said Makabu. “I want to show everyone that I can box beyond strength.
“I am not looking for a knockout. I come to the box because this is boxing. We showed them we could box, and I beat him. Canelo is making a big mistake if he is promoted to cruiser class because he is not cruiser class.
“If he thinks he can fight and take down a heavy cruiser in Junior Makabu, he’s made a big mistake. I am waiting for you and ready for the way you fight. I want Canelo.
“I am a champion, and my manager will do something to do. I will fight anyone who gets in my way,” Makabu said of who he will face if he can’t fight Canelo next.
Canelo may have changed his mind about wanting to be promoted to cruiser class to challenge Makabu for his WBC title. In the last two weeks, there have been rumors that Canelo will face Jermall Charlo next.
Saul’s manager/coach Eddy Reynoso also mentioned Charlo as one of the possibilities for Canelo’s next fight in May.
However, Reynoso also said Gennady Golovkin, Artur Beterbiev, Joe Smith Jr, Dmitry Bivol and David Benavidez are all possibilities.
Reynoso is keeping a secret about who Canelo is fighting, and most likely, they have already picked out his next opponent. At this point, it doesn’t seem promising for Makabu as he gets into a fight with Canelo.
Don King says Canelo must fulfill his promise
“When you’re a boxer like Canelo, he’s the light heavyweight champion, the super middleweight champion, he’s the middleweight champion and he’s gone down the ladder of all the titles. this world brand,” said Promoter Don King Against TV Hub.
“Now he is reaching his fourth title [correction: fifth title], that will make him immortal and especially in Mexico,” King continued. “So, therefore, he wanted to be in it and have a chance at achieving that immortality.
“So he challenged [Makabu]. Makabu didn’t call Canelo. He never didn’t want to fight Canelo. He was just out there trying to win his cruiser class championship, and Canelo, Eddy Reynoso, was the manager. I kindly call you [Makabu] out at the WBC congress.
“So they gave him the opportunity to do so. So now, he [Canelo] must fulfill its promise. If he does, Makabu will fight Canelo. Otherwise, Makabu would continue to fight anyone. He doesn’t have any say in who he’s going to fight. I have that saying.
“I will fight for him, and I will find whatever is best for him to give him a chance to do so. Canelo called him as he did; it added a lot of spice to the show. We want to spice it up for all the rest of the world and see if Canelo can win the cruiser title.
“Reynoso, Canelo, and I, we have to go out there and get it out into the world. Whatever it is, win, lose or draw. We must be able to demonstrate your integrity, your accountability, your loyalty, and keeping your word. A man is only as good as his word.
“People live by their words. I don’t care if you have a trillion dollars. If you are a liar and are not to be trusted, you are just a billion dollar liar. We deal with what is real. So I’m looking forward to hearing from Eddy Reynoso, and we’ll start the show on the way,” said King.
