Badou Jack 28-3 (17) turned back the clock to outclass Ilunga Makabu 29-3 (25) and claim the WBC cruiserweight title by 12th round knockout at Diriyah Arena in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia on Saturday night.
At 39 years old Jack entered the bout as the betting underdog, boxing two weight classes north and eight years removed from his first world title fight.
But proving that age is just a number, Jack boxed an intelligent fight, using movement, angles and clever counterpunching to dictate the distance and control the ring.
“Alhamdulillah, it feels amazing,” Jack said after the fight. “Someone said I was also the oldest cruiserweight champion of all time.”
Southpaw Makabu stalked Jack from the opening bell, outlanding the challenger in the first three rounds. The tide started to turn for Jack in the fourth when a right hand scored a flash knockdown and delivered a 10-8 round for the veteran.
Makabu kept the pressure up through the mid rounds of the bout but he often struggled to cut off the ring. Jack was able to repeatedly land the cleaner, more eye-catching shots.
As the fight entered the championship rounds it was clear that Jack had the ascendancy. According to CompuBox, he landed almost double the number of power shots at 21 to 12 in the penultimate round, including a right hand that deposited Makabu on the canvas for the second time in the fight.
Jack wasted little time in the twelfth and final round to close the show. Another right hand followed by a flurry of blows was all referee Mark Lyson needed to see to call a halt to the contest at the 0:54 mark.
“I was standing there too much. My trainer told me to box and move. That’s not my style,” Jack said.
“I mean, I box. But I also like to come forward and fight. Makabu is a hell of a fighter. He’s an African brother of mine.
“We used to be training partners. He is still my brother.”
The story of the fight was reflected in CompuBox statistics that had Jack landing an astonishing 61% of his power punches despite throwing 173 fewer blows. Over the final four rounds Jack landed 76 power punches to Makabu’s 58.
“I just want Badou to keep one thing in mind,” Makabu said at the pre-fight press conference. “I’m going to break your nose. I’m going to break your chin. I’m going to break your ribs.
“I’ve been a world champion for many years. I’m a dangerous boxer. There is no way Badou can take my belt. I’ll go back home with the belt and still be the WBC champion of the world.”
At the same press conference Jack said: “I’m here to take his belt, to win. I’m here to become the first Muslim fighter to become a world champion in Saudi… I still feel young. I feel fresh. I want to keep going and I am here to make history.”
The bout was the main support to the Jake Paul versus Tommy Fury fight.
