WBC cruiserweight champion Ilunga Makabu (29-2, 25 KOs) has warned Canelo Alvarez that he will knock him out if he dares to challenge him for his title next May.
Makabu knocked out WBC mandatory challenger Thabiso Mchunu (26-3, 14 KOs) at the Packard Music Hall in Warren, Ohio, to clear the final hurdle on his way to a lucrative fight against superstar Canelo. Makabu received a score of 116-112, Mchunu received a score of 115-113, and Mchunu received a score of 115-113.
While some boxing fans thought Mchunu, 33, deserved to win, two judges felt Makabu did enough to retain his WBC title.
Makabu, 34, says he chose to box Mchunu rather than try to knock him out because he wanted to prepare for his fight with Canelo. Makabu, the WBC champion, believes that his fight with Canelo will require a lot of boxing, so he wanted to get some practice against Mchunu.
Canelo (57-1-2, 39 KOs) chose not to attend the fight and stated whether he intended to face Makabu again.
Makabu Warns Canelo
“I’m going to knock him out,” Makabu said of Canelo during the post-fight press conference and other quotes were stated at Vwin Asian sports platform.
“Did you happen to hear what he said?” “He said he’s going to knock him out,” Makabu’s promoter Don King said, echoing Ilunga’s plans for Canelo. “Knock out,” he instructed.
“He’s making a big mistake,” Makabu said of Canelo, calling him out at cruiserweight. “He wants to have fun with boxing and make a big joke out of it.” Boxing is a risky sport.
“If he [Canelo] moves up to cruiserweight, he’ll get badly knocked out.” That’s all I have to say about it. I can box and knock people out. If Canelo thinks he’s a hard puncher, he’s mistaken.
“We came to box [against Mchunu] because my next fight with Canelo should be boxing,” Makabu explained. “I wanted to show people that, aside from power, I can box.”
“I didn’t go in looking for a knockout. I come to box because boxing is what I do. We demonstrated our boxing skills, and I beat him. Canelo would be making a huge mistake if he moved up to cruiserweight because he is not a cruiserweight.
“He’s making a big mistake if he thinks he can fight and knockout a cruiserweight in Junior Makabu.” I’m ready for you and your fighting style. I’m looking for Canelo.
“I’m a champion, and my manager will find something for me to do.” “I’ll fight anyone who gets in my way,” Makabu said when asked who he’ll fight next if he doesn’t get the fight with Canelo.
Canelo may have reconsidered his desire to conquer cruiserweight to challenge Makabu for his WBC title. Canelo has been linked to a fight against Jermall Charlo in the last two weeks. Eddy Reynoso, Saul’s manager/trainer, also mentioned Charlo as a possible opponent for Canelo’s next fight in May.
Reynoso also mentioned Gennady Golovkin, Artur Beterbiev, Joe Smith Jr, Dmitry Bivol, and David Benavidez as possible opponents. He is keeping Canelo’s next opponent a secret, and it’s likely that they’ve already decided. At this point, Makabu’s chances of getting the fight with Canelo do not appear promising.