By Adam Baskin: Ilunga Makabu is still interested in defending his WBC cruiserweight title against Canelo Alvarez if the superstar is willing to go up in weight for the challenge to become a five-division world champion.
Makabu, 35, is vowing to knock out Canelo if he dares come up to cruiserweight to battle him for his prestigious WBC belt.
The big punching Makabu (29-2, 25 KOs) and Canelo had posed for pictures, and there was talk that the Mexican star would come up to cruiserweight to fight him for his WBC belt.
Instead, Canelo took a different direction earlier this year, electing to challenge Dmitry Bivol for his WBA light heavyweight belt. In hindsight, it was a bad move on Canelo’s part, as he picked the most difficult champion at 175, resulting in his defeat.
Had Canelo fought IBF, WBC & WBO 175-lb champion Artur Beterbiev or Makabu for his WBC belt, there’s an excellent chance that he would have won those fights due to his hand speed and superior boxing skills.
Makabu, 35, still holds the WBC title, and he wants Canelo to know the invitation is still there for him to face him for his strap in 2023. Canelo doesn’t have an opponent picked out for his next bout in May, and Makabu would be a great option for him to win a fifth-division belt.
“If Canelo still wants to fight me, I will knock him out. I’ll do a lot better than Bivol did,” WBC cruiserweight champion Ilunga Makabu said to DAZN.
“I’m disappointed [the Canelo-Makabu clash didn’t take place] because Canelo is the best fighter at the moment, and I really want to fight the best, and there wasn’t the opportunity.”
Makabu has picked a bad time in Canelo’s career for him to be offering a title shot because there’s pressure being put on him by boxing fans to try and avenge his loss to Bivol.
Moreover, the WBC made it known that Canelo must defend his super middleweight title against the winner of the March fight between David Benavidez and Caleb Plant.
“If he wants to make history, I’m here, I’m waiting, and I’m ready,” said Makabu. “I know everyone was waiting for that fight.
“I want boxing fans to know. Canelo was the one who challenged me. I’m still champion, but Canelo never came to fight me, but I’m sure Canelo realized that it was complicated to face Junior Makabu.”
Unfortunately for Makabu, fans aren’t waiting for a fight between him and Canelo. Fans want to see Canelo face these fighters:
- Dmitry Bivol
- David Benavidez
- Artur Beterbiev
- Jermall Charlo
- David Morrell
- Caleb Plant
If Canelo can get through that murderer’s row of fighters in one piece, perhaps a fight between him and Makabu would interest people.
It’s doubtful, though, because there are arguably better champions at cruiserweight that fans would prefer to see Canelo fight, like Jai Opetaia, Lawrence Okolie, and Arsen Goulamirian.
