| |
|
WBC World Cruiserweight Champion Ilunga Junior Makabu Defends His Title Sunday Night Against Badou Jack
PhilBoxing.com Fri, 24 Feb 2023
MIAMI, FL (February 23, 2023)—One of the most exciting fighters in the world, WBC World Cruiserweight Champion Ilunga Junior Makabu will defend his title against the veteran Badou Jack on Sunday night on ESPN+ in Saudi Arabia as part of the Jake Paul-Tommy Fury card.
“Ilunga Junior Makabu will show why he is considered the best cruiserweight in the world,” said Makabu’s promoter Don King. “Makabu has all the tools to be one of the all-time greats. After retaining his title, he’s ready to win the other belts to become the undisputed cruiserweight champion.”
Makabu (29-2, 25 KOs) will defend his title for the first time in a year. He last fought Jan. 29 of this year in Warren, OH, winning a split decision over Thabiso Mchunu. That victory was only his second defense of his title since Dec. 19, 2020.
Makabu won the vacant title on Jan. 31, 2020 in South Africa in scoring a unanimous decision over challenger Michael Cieslak and defended the title 11 months later on Dec. 19th and knocked out Olanrewaju in the 7th round in Kinshasa.
Makabu, 35, who hails from the Republic of the Congo, has won 10 consecutive fights since his second career loss coming in the WBC World Cruiserweight Championship on May 29, 2016 when he got knocked out in the third round by Tony Bellew. The bout was a slugfest as Makabu knocked Bellew down with a left hook in the first round.
Jack (27-3-3, 16 KOs), 39, who hails from Sweden, has won five consecutive fights, his last victory a split decision over undefeated Richard Riviera on Aug. 20, 2022.
Jack’s last title fight was his last loss on Dec. 28, 2019 when he fought Jean Pascal for the WBA Light Heavyweight championship as well as the WBC Silver Light Heavyweight title. Jack lost a close split decision with two of the judges seeing the fight 114-112 for Pascal and the other judge seeing it in favor of Jack at 114-112.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
What's Three Pounds? The Collazo-Vayson Affair (Part II) By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Thu, 14 Aug 2025Don King Productions Announces October 4th Showdown Featuring No. 1 WBA Heavyweight Contender Michael Hunter Facing World Champion Kubrat Pulev , Thu, 14 Aug 2025Jayson Vayson Ready to Battle Oscar Collazo for WBO/WBA World Titles (Analysis) By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 14 Aug 2025Arab American boxing pride to be on display August 31st in Detroit , Thu, 14 Aug 2025What's Three Pounds? The Collazo-Vayson Affair By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Wed, 13 Aug 2025Requinto to fight against an Indian in Davao on Aug. 31 By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 13 Aug 2025NU's Yana Emilou De Vera dominates U1700 Asian Amateur Chess Championships in Hongkong By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 13 Aug 2025Llover to defend OPBF title against former world champ By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 13 Aug 2025Cebuano Elmo Traya in Action in Brico Santig’s Aug 30 Show on DAZN By Carlos Costa, , Wed, 13 Aug 2025Jacamos is new PH Youth champ By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 13 Aug 2025FECOMBOX Unifies Boxing Commissions, Vows to Enhance Safety and Standards By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 13 Aug 202512-Time World Champion & Hall of Famer James Toney Confirmed for Eighth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Mexican Independence Day Weekend, Saturday September 13, in Las Vegas , Wed, 13 Aug 2025Maurice H. Goldner: Letting the Filipino Fist Speak for Itself By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Tue, 12 Aug 2025WBC Boxing Grand Prix Quarterfinals Set for Riyadh: 32 Fighters Vie for Glory By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 12 Aug 2025Awesome! Jayson Vayson In Fight of his Life Against Oscar Collazo for Unified WBO/WBA Minimumweight Titles Sep 20 on DAZN (Analysis) By Carlos Costa, , Tue, 12 Aug 2025Midgley Stops Apisit, Claims WBF Australasian Belt By Carlos Costa, , Tue, 12 Aug 2025FM Ivan Travis Cu takes first in Blitz at the 9th Eastern Youth Chess Championship By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 12 Aug 2025WBA, WBO AND RING MAGAZINE MINIMUMWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION OSCAR “EL PUPILO” COLLAZO TO DEFEND TITLES AGAINST JAYSON “STRIKER” VAYSON , Tue, 12 Aug 2025‘BOOTS’ ENNIS LANDS WBA SUPER-WELTERWEIGHT FINAL ELIMINATOR AGAINST LIMA IN PHILADELPHIA ON OCT 11 LIVE ON DAZN , Tue, 12 Aug 2025PERO CLASHES WITH THOMPSON IN ORLANDO ON NOV 1 AS HOMETOWN HERO JONES RETURNS LIVE ON DAZN , Tue, 12 Aug 2025Tristan Jared Cervero wins Philippine Xiangqi tournament By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 12 Aug 2025Team España rules 2025 DC Athletics Open By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 12 Aug 2025Cordero, Sta Brigada top DC Shotgun Challenge By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 12 Aug 2025THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 10 AUGUST 2025 By Eric Armit, , Mon, 11 Aug 2025Abelgas finishes second in Asian Amateur Chess Championships By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 11 Aug 2025 |

|
|
|
|
|