WBC cruiserweight champion Ilunga Makabu 28-2 (25) is looking to make a statement against Thabiso Mchunu 23-5 (13) when they meet in a rematch at the WD Packard Music Hall in Warren, Ohio on Saturday night.
The 34-year-old Congolese-South African southpaw is vying for a ticket in the Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez sweepstakes after the Mexican superstar’s team flagged a move up from super middleweight to the 200-pound division.
Makabu scored a come-from-behind 11th round knockout win over 33-year-old South African southpaw Mchunu in 2015 and will be looking to repeat the treatment this time around.
“I hope everybody knows who I am,” Makabu said. “I’m very thankful for this opportunity to be here today in front of you guys. I’m very thankful to Don King Productions for making this event happen because plenty of events have been disturbed by Covid.
“I’m very happy to be here and to have the opportunity to defend our title on January 29. I don’t have much to say. I just want to say good luck to my opponent Thabiso Mchunu because this is the second time I’m fighting him now. Thanks to all who come to support us. Thanks to my team. Enjoy the fight on the 29th.”
Mchunu said: “The hard work has been done. Come fight night, I am ready to go. All the best to everyone who is fighting on Saturday night.”
Also on the card WBA ‘Regular’ heavyweight titleholder Trevor Bryan 21-0 (15) will defend his strap against Jonathan Guidry 17-0-2 (10).
“I am here to stay, to keep proving myself,” Bryan said. “I have a strong opponent in front of me in Jonathan Guidry. I appreciate him being out here. This is a big opportunity for him as well.
“We are going to show it out for you in Ohio and showcase all this talent for the whole world to see. It’s been a long road, a lot of hearsay. I am here to stay. It won’t be long now. I am the journey.”
WBA number 13 ranked heavyweight Guidry said: “All the hard work is done. I am just glad we got the opportunity. We are just thankful to be out here to shock the world.”
Promoter Don King spoke about his relationship with Ohio and his association with Muhammad Ali.
“We’re going to have a sensational evening of boxing,” King said. “I am very pleased to be home again. It will give people a chance to have fun again. No one should take it lightly. It would be much better if you take the vaccinations and the shot, wear your mask and socially distance.
“We are here to give you a moment of respite. Hey everybody, let’s have some fun. Live it once, and when you’re dead, you’re done. No matter whether you are young or old, let the good times roll.
“I have to thank God because we had a governor (of Ohio) who reduced the charge for me, basically because he said it wasn’t possible. Nevertheless, he put his reputation on the line. They sent me to the Ohio penitentiary. They said they were going to give me shock probation. I had never been arrested so they were going to give me 30-90 days. I ended up doing four years. I made the time serve me. I educated myself in the penitentiary. When I came out of the penitentiary, the good citizens of Cleveland were waiting to tell me about the hospital that was going to be closed down for lack of funds and would I promote a fundraiser for the hospital.
“I called Muhammad Ali to come in and box five or six guys. In so doing, we would raise money for this hospital. He told me that I was the greatest promoter he had ever seen and I should go into boxing. So, my first fight was Muhammad Ali. We made history together. Then he got convicted by not taking that step into the Army. He was sentenced to five years and a big fine at the height of his career. He stood as a conscientious objector. The United States Supreme Court reversed that decision. Ali then came back and made history again with me promoting him.
“The four years that he was out, no one knows how great he would have really been because he was at the top of his career. Plus, he would have made millions of dollars during those four years.
“You’ve got to say, ‘Muhammad Ali take a deep breath. Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. Your hands can’t hit what your eyes can’t see.’ He was so fast that he could turn the switch off and get in bed before the room got dark.”
