ILUNGA MAKABU has warned Canelo Alvarez is making a ‘big mistake’ by challenging for his cruiserweight title.
It comes after the WBC sensationally accepted Canelo’s request to challenge for the belt.
At the WBC convention in Mexico, the pair came face to face for the first time, with the size difference evident.
But Canelo revealed he will choose to weigh 180lb, or 12st 8lb, which is almost TWO STONE lighter than the usual 200lb, 14st 4lb cruiserweight limit.
Makabu has also insisted there will be no catchweight, ruling out any contracted stipulation which would make him drop down.
He said: “Canelo is the best boxer on the planet right now.
“So, I want to fight the best, and I accept, but there will be no catchweight for this fight.
“I think Canelo is making a big mistake, which he is going to regret.
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“Canelo wants to prove to people that he can do better than others and I am quite prepared to let Canelo try for this dream, but I‘ve got my also story to write down.
“Yes, this is boxing. I lost to Tony Bellew, but I came back. Now I’m telling you 100 per cent, I will knock out Canelo.”
Canelo, 31, has won belts from light-middleweight all the way to light-heavyweight.
His heaviest career victory was for the WBO 175lb title which he won after knocking out Sergey Kovalev, 39, in November 2019.
But Canelo soon moved back down to super-middleweight, where he has since settled.
And the Mexican superstar became undisputed champion in just 11 months and four fights.
Wins over Callum Smith, 31, Avni Yildirim, 30, Billy Joe Saunders, 32, and most recently Caleb Plant, 29, saw him win and retain the belts.
The leap up to cruiserweight would be two divisions higher and see Canelo try and conquer a FIFTH weight class.
Alvarez has even been offered the chance to fight Makabu in in DR Congo – where the iconic ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ was staged in 1974.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
