By Scott Gilfoid: Despite being ranked lower than the talented and much more powerful #1 WBC Ilunga Makuba (19-1, 18 KOs), #6 WBC Tony Bellew (26-2-1, 16 KOs) is looking to get their fight to be staged at Goodison Park in Liverpool, UK. In other words, Bellew is looking to get hometown advantage in this fight rather than having the fight take place in a neutral venue or the venue of the higher ranked Makuba’s preference.
Bellew lives in Liverpool. Makuba and Bellew will be fighting for the vacant WBC cruiserweight title in a fight that will likely take place on June 4. This is the WBC title that was stripped recently from champion Grigory Drozd due to him suffering a couple of injuries that prevented him from defending the WBC title against Makuba.
Rather than the WBC just flat out giving Makuba the WBC title, which you can argue that they should have done, they selected Bellew as the guy for Makuba should fight. I wonder what the fighters ranked above Bellew must be thinking right now at seeing him get picked ahead of them.
By Scott Gilfoid: Former two-time world title challenger Tony Bellew (26-2-1, 16 KOs) will be fighting #1 WBC knockout artist Ilunga Makabu (19-1, 18 KOs) for the vacant WBC cruiserweight title at a still determined date and venue. Makabu is a bigger puncher than Adonis Stevenson in terms of his left uppercut. We saw how Stevenson was able to take Bellew apart with his big left hands. If Makabu is able to land his left uppercuts against Bellew, then it’ll be an early night for Makabu.