Makabu Vs Mchunu End Of January, The Winner Will Face Canelo Alvarez Next May

Ilunga Makabu (Instagram @ ilungamakabu.official)

JAKARTA - Ilunga Makabu will defend his WBC cruiserweight world title (90.7 kg) against Thabiso Mchunu. The winner of this duel will face Saul "Canelo" Alvarez.

As reported by Antara from the official WBC website, Friday, the duel between Makabu versus Mchunu will take place at the WD Packard Music Hall, Ohio, United States (US), on January 29.

The WBC also plans to bring together the winner of the duel with Alvarez, who has expressed his intention to upgrade from super-middle (76.2 kg) to cruiser. It is likely that the match will start in May 2022.

But everything is just a plan. There is no certainty whether Alvarez will really go up to the cruiser division.

On the other hand, there are a number of inputs for the Mexican boxer. As from the promoter Eddie Hearn who wants Alvarez to move up to the light heavyweight (79.3 kg) division rather than the cruiser division.

Currently, Alvarez is at the peak of his career after officially becoming the undisputed super middleweight boxer after defeating Caleb Plant at the MGM Grand, Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, November 6, 2021.

With four major titles, namely WBA Super, IBF, WBO and WBC, the 31-year-old boxer has been named the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world.

Meanwhile, the Makabu versus Mchunu duel is predicted to be interesting. For Makabu, this is the second duel in the mission to defend the title.

He holds the WBC world title after defeating Michal Cieslak at the Temporary Arena, Kinshasa, Congo, on January 31, 2021.

After that, Makabu defeated Olanrewaju Durodola at Studio Mama Angebi, Kinshasa, on December 19, 2020. This victory brought Makabu's winning record to 28 out of a total of 30 matches.

Meanwhile, Mchunu, who is present as a challenger, must have high ambitions to win the WBC title. He is a boxer from South Africa who has a record of 23 wins and five defeats.

Mchunu had the opportunity to challenge the reigning champion after defeating Evgeny Tishchenko at the RCC Boxing Academy, Ekaterinburg, Russia, on 27 March 2021.

"This will be an action-packed match for the WBC title. A great battle is in sight," said Don King, promoter of the Makabu versus Mchunu match.