{"id":65710,"date":"2022-01-24T13:11:50","date_gmt":"2022-01-24T19:11:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wbcboxing.com\/?p=65710"},"modified":"2022-01-24T13:11:50","modified_gmt":"2022-01-24T19:11:50","slug":"star-of-africa-rematch-between-makabu-and-mchunu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wbcboxing.com\/en\/star-of-africa-rematch-between-makabu-and-mchunu\/","title":{"rendered":"Star of Africa rematch between Makabu and Mchunu"},"content":{"rendered":"

Star of Africa rematch between Makabu and Mchunu + WBC Stats<\/strong><\/h2>\n

By James Blears<\/p>\n

WBC cruiserweight champion Junior Ilunga Makabu from the Congo, defends his title for the second time, in a mega-bout rematch against Thabiso Mchunu on January 29th<\/sup> at the Packard Music Hall in Warren Ohio.<\/p>\n

The southpaws clashed for the first time in May 2015. On that occasion it was an action packed eliminator for the WBC title and a fight to remember. Thabiso dominated the first half of the bout, peppering a slow starting Ilunga with accurate right jabs, combinations and uppercuts. He launched an onslaught in the third rocking the taller man, who was glad to hear the bell to end the round.<\/p>\n

But it proved to be a fight of two distinct halves containing multi segments. After the sixth, resilient tough as nails Ilunga came into his own, and started to force the pace. Thabiso says that he initially found Ilunga an easy target to hit, went all out for the KO, didn`t pace himself and gassed.<\/p>\n

Ilunga dished out severe punishment in the ninth and tenth and then closed the show with a peach of a left uppercut felling Thabiso who couldn`t beat the count. Six years later, the two are standing face to face, poised to launch a second cannonade of fireworks in a Don King Promotion, which should prove explosive and memorable.<\/p>\n

Ilunga aged thirty four has built a record of 28-2 with 25 KO`s.\u00a0 He lost his pro debut against Khayeni Hlungwane via a first round TKO. From there he progressed impressively with a string of KO`s.\u00a0 We had to wait eight years before his next defeat at the hands of Tony Bellew for the vacant WBC title on Tony`s home turf of Goodison Park, Liverpool. The soccer stadium of his beloved Everton. This followed Ilunga`s victory over Thabiso.<\/p>\n

Ilunga dropped Tony in round one with a cracking left hook, which summersaulted him backwards.\u00a0 In the words of Tony`s Trainer Dave Coldwell, Tony got greedy and was caught. But Tony made amends in the third, dropping Ilunga with a massive right, to close the show with a KO.<\/p>\n

Ilunga patiently regrouped and went to Russia to win the WBC vacant silver title with a TKO over Dmitry Kudryashov. Then a MD win over Aleksei Papin and the next fight was against Poland`s Michal Cieslak for the vacant WBC title.<\/p>\n

Michal started strong and had Ilunga in trouble in round three, but Illunga again showed his ability to reverse adversity, knocking his opponent down in the fourth.\u00a0 He got stronger as the fight progressed in front of his adoring fans in Kinshasa and won a UD.\u00a0 And in his first title defense, also in Kinshasa he TKO`d Olanrewaja Durodola.\u00a0 So now it`s time to fight Thabiso Mchunu, all over again.<\/p>\n

Thabiso Mchunu has been in Mexico City for ten days, with his Coach Sean Smith and his team, training in the White Collar Gym on Palmas Avenue. They`ve secured visas from the US Embassy here to smooth their journey to Ohio.<\/p>\n

Thabiso`s\u00a0 pro debut was in 2007. He`s built a record of 28 fights with 23 wins including 13 KO`s and 5 losses. In his second fight after the defeat by Ilunga he fought the mighty Oleksandr Usyk, who put him down in the sixth and twice in the ninth for a KO victory.<\/p>\n

Thabiso`s nickname is The Rock, because he`s overcome adversity to become the number one challenger. He lost a close MD to Thomas Oosthuizen and then in his next fight defeated him by UD. He went to Russia to defeat Denis Lebedev by UD to win the vacant WBC silver title, and back to Russia again to defeat Evgeny Tishchenko by UD, to earn his opportunity at the Absolute title against Ilunga.<\/p>\n

Thabiso says he`s been in training camp for four months to fight Ilunga and has prepared to go twelve hard rounds. He`s five feet eleven inches tall and has a seventy two and a half inch reach. Ilunga is six feet tall and has a seventy four inch reach. Somehow, they look taller and shorter than that?<\/p>\n

In their first fight, both stood toe to toe and swopped a lot of very hard punches. It`s likely they will also fight at relatively short range this time and it`ll be another slugfest. Ilunga will look to start a lot faster in this one, while Thabiso will conserve his stamina. Both favor going \u00a0to the body and throwing uppercuts upstairs. Like their first encounter, it`s unlikely to go the distance.<\/p>\n

The obvious immediate focus is on each other. But the winner might have an opportunity for an even bigger payday. At the World Boxing Council Convention in Mexico City, Saul Canelo`s Manager Eddy Reynoso gained permission for the Flame haired wonder, to fight against Ilunga. This might be on Cinco de Mayo, Ilunga comes through this test of fire.\u00a0 Canelo is keen to become the first Mexican boxer to win world titles in five weight categories.\u00a0 There`s also talk of Canelo possibly fighting undefeated WBC middleweight champion Jermall Charlo, who`d move up to super middleweight for the challenge.<\/p>\n

If the Makabu Vs Mchunu fights proves to be a grueling test\u2026and it will, May seems but a short time for the victor to prepare for Canelo. Stranger things have happened in boxing. Right now it`s not on the mind, but quite possibly in the back of it.<\/p>\n

The current focus is January 29th<\/sup>.\u00a0 It`s going to be a great fight.\u00a0 The WBC cruiserweight crown is on the line. Whoever wins will be the Star of Africa and the Globe.<\/p>\n

Don King <\/strong>Return to Greatness – Homecoming at Last <\/strong>Official PPV Live Stream:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.fite.tv\/watch\/don-king-homecoming-at-last\/2pap8\/<\/a><\/p>\n

WBC STATISTICS<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\"\"
\n<\/strong><\/h3>\n

WBC Cruiserweight World Championship<\/strong><\/h3>\n

January 29, 2022 \/ Packard Music Hall, Warren, Ohio, USA<\/p>\n

DON KING PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS:<\/p>\n

\"\"\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

ILUNGA “Junior” MAKABU (Congo)<\/strong><\/p>\n

WBC Cruiserweight World Champion, 2nd Title defense<\/p>\n

Age: 34 \/ Date of birth: November 8, 1987<\/p>\n

Birthplace: Kananga, Democratic Republic of The Congo<\/p>\n

Record: 28-2, 25 KOs \/ Total rounds: 141 \/ World championship fights: 2-1<\/p>\n

Height: 6’0″ \u2013 183cm \/ Reach: 74″ \u2013 188cm \/ Stance: Left-handed<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

THABISO MCHUNU (South Africa)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ranked WBC No. 1 at Cruiserweight<\/p>\n

Age: 33\u00a0 \/ Date of birth: March 4, 1988<\/p>\n

Birthplace: KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa<\/p>\n

Record: 23-5, 13 KOs \/ Total rounds: 197 \/<\/p>\n

Height: 5′ 11″ \u2013 180 cm \/ Reach: 72 .5″ \u2013 184 \/ Stance: Left-handed<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

WBC\u00a0CRUISERWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONS<\/h3>\n

1. Marvin Camel (US)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1980<\/p>\n

2. Carlos de Leon (P. Rico)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01980 \u2013 1982<\/p>\n

3. S.T. Gordon (US)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1982 \u2013 1983<\/p>\n

4. Carlos de Leon (P. Rico) *\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01983 \u2013 1985<\/p>\n

5. Alfonzo Ratliff (US)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1985<\/p>\n

6. Bernard Benton (US)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01985 \u2013 1986<\/p>\n

7. Carlos de Leon (P. Rico) *\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1986 \u2013 1988<\/p>\n

8. Evander Holyfield (US)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1988<\/p>\n

9. Carlos de Leon (P. Rico) *\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1989 \u2013 1990<\/p>\n

10. Massimiliano Duran (Italy)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1990 \u2013 1991<\/p>\n

11. Anaclet Wamba (France)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1991 \u2013 1995<\/p>\n

12. Marcelo Dominguez (Arg)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1995 \u2013 1998<\/p>\n

13. Juan Carlos Gomez (Cuba)\u00a0\u00a01998 \u2013 2002<\/p>\n

14. Wayne Braithwaite (Guyana)\u00a0\u00a02002 \u2013 2005<\/p>\n

15. Jean-Marc Mormeck (France) 2007<\/p>\n

16. O\u2019Neil Bell (US)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2006 \u2013 2007<\/p>\n

17. Jean Marc Mormeck (France)* 2007<\/p>\n

18. David Haye (UK)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2007 \u2013 2008<\/p>\n

19. Giacobbe Fragomeni (Italy)\u00a0\u00a0 2008 \u2013 2009<\/p>\n

20. Zsolt Erdei (Hungary)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2008 \u2013 2010<\/p>\n

21. Krzystof Wlodarczyk (Poland) 2010 \u2013 2014<\/p>\n

22. Grigory Drozd (Russia)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2014 \u2013 2015<\/p>\n

23. Tony Bellew (UK)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2016 \u2013 2017<\/p>\n

24. Mairis Briedis (Latvia)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2017 \u2013 2018<\/p>\n

25. Oleksandr Usyk (Ukraine)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a02018 \u2013 2019<\/p>\n

26. Ilunga Makubu (Congo)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2020 \u2013<\/p>\n

* Regained<\/p>\n

<\/h3>\n

WBC TOP 10\u00a0CRUISERWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONS<\/h3>\n

1. Evander Holyfield (US)<\/p>\n

2. Oleksandr Usyk (Ukraine)<\/p>\n

3. Juan Carlos Gomez (Cuba-Germany)<\/p>\n

4. David Haye (GB)<\/p>\n

5. Tony Bellew (GB)<\/p>\n

6. Mairis Briedis (Latvia)<\/p>\n

7. Zsolt Erdei (Hungary)<\/p>\n

8. Krzystof Wlodarczyk (Poland)<\/p>\n

9. Jean-Marc Mormeck (France)<\/p>\n

10. Anaclet Wamba (France)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

GENERAL INFORMATION ON THE\u00a0CRUISERWEIGHT DIVISION IN WBC HISTORY<\/h3>\n

76\u00a0cruiserweight world championship bouts have been held in the history of the WBC.<\/p>\n

22 world champions have been recognized by the WBC, of whom only two have regained the title: Carlos de Leon (Puerto Rico) three times, Jean Marc Mormeck (France) one time.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

MEMORABLE WBC\u00a0CRUISERWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHTS<\/h3>\n

Jan. 31, 2020\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ilunga Makubu W12 Michal Cieslak \u2013 Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of The Congo<\/p>\n

Nov. 10, 2018\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Oleksandr Usyk TKO8 Tony Bellew \u2013 Manchester, England<\/p>\n

July 21, 2018\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Oleksandr Usyk W12 Murat Gassiev \u2013 Moscow, Russia<\/p>\n

Jan. 27, 2018\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Oleksandr Usyk W12 Mairis Briedis \u2013 Riga, Latvia<\/p>\n

Apr. 1, 2017\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Mairis Briedis W12 Marco Huck \u2013 Westfalenhalle, Germany<\/p>\n

May 29, 2016\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Tony Bellew TKO3 Ilunga Makabu \u2013 Liverpool, England<\/p>\n

Sep. 27, 2014\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Grigory Drozd W12 Krzysztof Wlodarczyk \u2013 Moscow, Russia<\/p>\n

May 15, 2010\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Krzysztof Wlodarczyk TKO8 Giacobbe Fragomeni \u2013 Lodz, Poland<\/p>\n

Oct. 24, 2008\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Giacobbe Fragomeni TW8 Rudolf Kraj \u2013 Milan, Italy<\/p>\n

Mar. 8, 2008\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0David Haye TKO2 Enzo Maccarinelli \u2013 London, England<\/p>\n

Jan. 7, 2006\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0O’Neil Bell KO10 Jean Marc Mormeck \u2013 New York, New York<\/p>\n

Apr. 2, 2005\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Jean Marc Mormeck W12 Wayne Braithwaite \u2013 Worcester, Massachusetts<\/p>\n

Oct. 11, 2002\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Wayne Braithwaite TKO10 Vincenzo Cantatore \u2013 Lombardia, Italy<\/p>\n

Feb. 21, 1998\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Juan Carlos Gomez W12 Marcelo Fabian Dominguez \u2013 Buenos Aires, Argentina<\/p>\n

July 25, 1995\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Marcelo Fabian Dominguez TKO9 Akim Tafir \u2013 Pyr\u00e9n\u00e9es-Atlantiques, France<\/p>\n

July 20, 1991\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Anaclet Wamba TKO11 Massimiliano Duran \u2013 Palermo, Sicily<\/p>\n

July 27, 1990\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Massimiliano Duran WDQ11 Carlos DeLeon \u2013 Capo d’Orlando, Sicily<\/p>\n

May 17, 1989\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Carlos DeLeon TKO9 Sammy Reeson \u2013 London, England<\/p>\n

Apr. 9, 1988\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Evander Holyfield TKO8 Carlos DeLeon \u2013 Las Vegas, Nevada<\/p>\n

Feb. 24, 1982\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Carlos DeLeon TKO8 Marvin Camel \u2013 Atlantic City, New Jersey<\/p>\n

Mar. 31, 1980\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Marvin Camel W15 Mate Parlov \u2013 Las Vegas, Nevada<\/p>\n

Dec. 8, 1979\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Marvin Camel D15 Mate Parlov \u2013 Split, Croatia<\/p>\n

WBC Stats by Luis Medina<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Star of Africa rematch between Makabu and Mchunu + WBC Stats By James Blears WBC cruiserweight champion Junior Ilunga Makabu from the Congo, defends his title [\u2026]<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":65711,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[122,121,120],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-65710","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-main-news","category-news"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wbcboxing.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65710","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wbcboxing.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wbcboxing.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wbcboxing.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wbcboxing.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=65710"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wbcboxing.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65710\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wbcboxing.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/65711"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wbcboxing.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=65710"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wbcboxing.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=65710"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wbcboxing.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=65710"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}