Boxing

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.
Canelo Alvarez is making a ‘big mistake’ by challenging for his cruiserweight titleCredit: Reuters
Ilunga Makabu is the WBC championCredit: Getty
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.
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CANELO ALVAREZ has been offered the chance to fight Ilunga Makabu in DR Congo – where the iconic ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ was staged. In 1974, Muhammad Ali famously knocked out George Foreman in Zaire, now the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Canelo Alvarez and his trainer Eddy ReynosoCredit: Getty
Muhammad Ali in 1974 famously knocked out George Foreman in ZaireCredit: AFP
Former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, 32, who has Nigerian heritage, has previously opened the door to fighting in Africa.
But now, Canelo’s coach and manager Eddy Reynoso revealed they have been approached to fight Makabu in the champ’s home of Congo.
It followed after Alvarez saw his request to fight for the cruiserweight title accepted by the WBC, who announced it at their annual convention.
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.

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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.
But now Canelo is prepared to move up to the 14st 4lb cruiserweight limit, which is over TWO STONE more than his usual fighting weight.
Makabu, 34, said: “I think Canelo is making a big mistake, which he is going to regret.
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 percent, I will knock out Canelo.”
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FLOYD MAYWEATHER called for Canelo Alvarez to face David Benavidez after reuniting with his old rival’s coach. Canelo has only once been beaten in his 60-fight career, as a 23-year-old against Mayweather in 2013.
Floyd Mayweather pictured with Canelo Alvarez’s coach Eddy ReynosoCredit: Instagram @wbcboxing
Canelo Alvarez was beaten by Floyd Mayweather in 2013Credit: Getty – Contributor
His trainer Eddy Reynoso recently linked up with the American legend at the WBC’s annual convention in Mexico and they posed for a picture.
It was there Mayweather, 44, named 25-0 former super-middleweight champion Benavidez as a potential opponent for Canelo.
He said: “We like Canelo Alvarez, but Gervonta Davis, Errol Spence, Terence Crawford – there are so many other great fighters out there.
“David Benavidez is a helluva fighter also; that’s a good test for Canelo.
“Canelo looked superb the other night. He went out there, and he went out there, and he done his job and did what he’s supposed to do as a fighter.
“We had a chance to clash, two undefeated fighters, and we gave people what they wanted to see.”

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Canelo, 31, most recently knocked out Caleb Plant, 29, to become undisputed super-middleweight champion.
But the Mexican, who has won titles in four divisions as high as light-heavyweight, now has his eye on a FIFTH weight.
The WBC announced they have accepted Canelo’s request to challenge CRUISERWEIGHT champion Ilunga Makabu, 34.
It means Benavidez, 24, and other super-middleweight contender will face a wait to fight divisional king Alvarez.
Canelo said: “Right now I can do whatever I want. I faced all the 168lbs world champions, I took the title from all of them. Now I do what I want.”
Former super-middleweight champion David BenavidezCredit: Getty
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DILLIAN WHYTE hit out at rival Tyson Fury and vowed to ‘finish him’ when they finally fight. Fury most recently knocked out Deontay Wilder in round 11 of their epic trilogy bout in Las Vegas.
Dillian Whyte hit out at rival Tyson Fury and vowed to ‘finish him’ when they finally fightCredit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
Tyson Fury was twice floored by Deontay Wilder before winning their trilogy boutCredit: Getty
But Wilder, 36, twice had the WBC champion down in round four, but was unable to close the show and was stopped himself after being floored three times.
Whyte, 33, promised he would do what the Bronze Bomber failed to and hand Fury, also 33, a crushing loss.
He told Sky Sports: “Of course I’ll finish him. Wilder is overrated. He can punch, but he can’t fight.
“He’s very athletic and rangy, and he’s got good speed, so when he closes the distance quick and he lands a punch, he’s heavy-handed.
“But he can’t box and he can’t fight. Everything he does is erratic and that’s why Fury was able to take him out.
“He knocked Fury down twice, heavy knockdowns, and Fury came back and won rounds. Wilder is just a freak of nature, he has no technical ability.

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“If I put Fury down, I’ll be attacking him, head and body, head and body.
“I don’t know what Wilder was doing. He didn’t look like he had any strategy or anything. He was just jumping into range and just acting crazy.”
Whyte holds the WBC ‘interim’ title, which in turn makes him mandatory for Fury’s title.
But after he launched a legal case to receive his shot at the belt, it actually prevented the WBC from ordering the fight at the annual convention.
Fury’s US promoter Bob Arum has also admitted they would prefer to face Oleksandr Usyk, 34, in an undisputed title decider.
But Anthony Joshua, 32, has already invoked his right to an immediate rematch with Usyk, following his loss in September, leaving Whyte as a frontrunner to fight Fury.

He said: “It’s already been confirmed that Tyson Fury has to fight me next.
“They announced it on their website that I’m the mandatory challenger and I’m Tyson Fury’s next fight.
“I don’t know where this confusion has come from. He will try to fight Usyk, because Usyk is a much easier fight for him.
“Fury has been mandated to fight me twice. He asked for the WBC ‘Diamond’ belt to fight me, but ran away when they agreed. He just keeps making excuses.
“Hopefully now he’s got no choice. What’s he going to do? Throw the belt in the bin and run away from more money than he got to fight Wilder?
“Obviously he says he’s a fighting man and a man of his word, but we all know he talks a lot of s***, so let’s see.
“He said he was going to fight me after he beat Wilder, then he ran away. Let’s see what he does.”
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FLOYD MAYWEATHER claimed his exhibition with Logan Paul was not a ‘real fight’ – and would have won in round one if it was. The American legend returned to the ring in June for the eight-round spectacle bout, and gave away TWO STONE in doing so.
Floyd Mayweather claimed his exhibition with Logan Paul was not a ‘real fight’Credit: Amanda Westcott
And Paul scored a huge moral victory after taking it the distance, meaning no winner was technically declared.
But Mayweather has now insisted had the fight been professionally sanctioned, with his 50-0 record on the line, then it would have been a different story.
He said: “I did an exhibition with the YouTuber Logan Paul. We had fun.
“People have gotta know, there’s a difference between a real fight and an exhibition. All I did was work out from time to time.
“If it was a real fight, it would’ve been a blowout in the first round.”
Mayweather, 44, hung up the gloves as a pro in 2017 after beating ex-UFC champion Conor McGregor, 33, in ten rounds.

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But he has since returned twice, both in exhibitions, and did so firstly against featherweight kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa, 23, in 2018.
His most recent ring cameo against social media star Paul, 26, looks to be the final fight of Mayweather’s career.
In an interview with the WBC, at their annual convention in Mexico, he admitted to not missing competing.
Mayweather said: “I’m OK. Floyd Mayweather made a lot of smart investments.
“One of the buildings I own is the tallest commercial building in America. So if you get a chance go to New York and check it out.
“This is my ninth sky scraper.”
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DILLIAN WHYTE could be in line to fight Tyson Fury for the WBC title at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium. Fury’s promoter Bob Arum admitted with Anthony Joshua set to rematch Oleksandr Usyk, hope of an undisputed title decider is slim.
Dillian Whyte could be in line to fight Tyson Fury for the WBC title at Cardiff’s Principality StadiumCredit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
Tyson Fury most recently knocked out Deontay WilderCredit: Reuters
And it leaves Whyte, the WBC mandatory challenger, as the second best option in their eyes.
According to BoxingScene, Arum has revealed talks will soon begin to set up the domestic mega-fight in Wales in March.
The promoter said: “Frank [Warren] and I are looking for the best possible opponent.
“Obviously, number one, we would like Usyk if Joshua steps aside.
“Number two, if that’s not possible, then Whyte probably is as attractive an opponent for Tyson as anybody else out there.
“So again, we’re gonna sit down with [Whyte’s] people and see if we can work out a deal.

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“It’s a huge fight in England, and Tyson has indicated that he wants his next fight to be in the UK.
“So, now there’s two guys that come to mind – one is Whyte, the other is [Joe] Joyce.
“We’re gonna see. And, of course, it all depends on who Fury wants to fight. Ultimately, he’ll decide.”
Whyte, 33, is the WBC’s interim champion which makes him the mandatory challenger for the title.
But he recently launched a legal case against the WBC to force through his shot at the belt.

In turn, it actually prevented the WBC from calling him to fight Fury, 33, at their annual convention in Mexico.
So instead, the Gypsy King could choose to fight Whyte on a voluntary basis opposed to a mandated defence.
Arum said: “You can’t sue an organisation and then say, ‘Well, make us mandatory.’
“Again, [the WBC is] quite right – until this is decided in arbitration, he doesn’t deserve to be the mandatory.
“I think they made a very, very appropriate decision. Now, that doesn’t mean that Tyson won’t end up fighting Dillian Whyte.
“But it won’t be done on a mandatory basis.”
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