WBC formally approves Canelo vs. Illunga Makabu (May 2022)

[Enlightened-One]

Illunga Makabu = WBC world cruiserweight champion (190lbs - new official WBC cruiserweight weight limit)?

Thoughts?

[gilgamesh]

He could do that. Hell he might as well try Heavyweight at some point. He really doesn't have anything to lose, and it'd be a momentous achievement if he could win that.

Not sure how he does at Cruiserweight, but it's probably worth a shot. I'd like to see him fight Benavidez first, but that fight has kinda lost it's luster with Benavidez constantly sabotaging his own career.

[gregregegg]

Id back Makabu to stop canelo unless he gets absolutly canelo weighted... cruiser weight might be at 176lbs for the next few years...

[DrDuke]

Makabu was iced by Phony Bellend, so it won't be a surprise, if Canelo nails him too.

[HomicideHenry]

It's plausible but is it probable? Idk.

My instinct tells me that he is too small to face the top cruiserweights let alone top 25-50 heavyweights. His one-time go at 175 seemed to be pretty strategic, facing an older champion who already previously lost. So it's hard for me to imagine him beating a prime cruiserweight champion.

It's already taking him many rounds to soften up and knock guys out at 168 so I can't imagine him having the power to really knock out top cruiserweights.

[bobcatbox]

If Canelo didn’t get knocked out, he’d win.

You think he could take Trevor Bryan?

[Enlightened-One]

Twenty minutes ago, the Fight Hype YouTube channel posted a video filmed at the WBC’s annual convention of Mauricio Sulamain approving of Canelo’s right to challenge for Mukabu’s WBC world cruiserweight championship.

Even though I initially mentioned the possibility of Canelo facing Makabu eight days ago (the first person from this forum to do so), this announcement really shocks me!!!

Assuming Canelo gains weight for the Makabu bout, then I won’t expect him to compete again at 168lbs.

He’ll likely return to 175lbs though.

[margaret thatcher]

hey whatta know, dag mentioned this fight nearly a year ago, id be up for it

Canelo vs Makabu would be a nice match-up.

[JCS]

Apparently WBC taking Cruiser back down to 190?

[margaret thatcher]

Apparently WBC taking Cruiser back down to 190?

a way for them to get more bridgerbois too probably, if you're one of these solid 200 pound guys, maybe already working real hard to get to the limit, do you really wanna do another 10 pounds?

if they do move it to 190, curious to see the impact it has, there could be a serious sudden shift of talents to other divisions. maybe some more lhws trying out cruiser too

[bbb636]

He lost against tony bellew, canelo can take him out.

[Enlightened-One]

hey whatta know, dag mentioned this fight nearly a year ago, id be up for it

Canelo vs Makabu would be a nice match-up.

Yep, you’re right.

No one really discussed it since at length since, and I’m guessing most people are shocked about Sulamain’s announcement, because I am.

[Enlightened-One]

Cue the haters accusing Canelo of ducking Andrade, Charlo and Benavidez!

[USMCer]

CRUISER WEIGHT !?!?

Damn, that might be "a bridge too far."

[RScarf1]

Illunga Makabu = WBC world cruiserweight champion (190lbs - new official WBC cruiserweight weight limit)?

Thoughts?

Now I see why the WBC wants to move cruiserweight back to 190 pounds. It can’t be about fighter safety because there would be 34 pounds from cruiserweight to bridgerweight at 224 pounds. This move to 190 makes it easier for Canelo to win a title at cruiserweight.

[margaret thatcher]

i doubt theyd move an entire division just for what would likely be a single appearance of canelo

i think more so theyd do it to pressure more guys to start fighting at bridgerweight (since they couldnt /wouldnt be comfortable cutting an extra 10 pounds), cuz currently there's hardly any fights happening there. in order for bw not to be a flop for them, theres gotta be more happening

[Lackeos]

I was hoping he'd start trying to unify the 175 division in his next fight. But naw. He just wants to be a five-weight world champion. I find it disappointing, because becoming a 2-weight undisputed champion is a more important accomplishment, IMO.

[margaret thatcher]

being an undisputed champ is almost always more impressive than becoming a champ in 1 more weight category, cuz you can pickout any 1 champ you want in the latter case. i would take him vs bert, bivol, and smith for example than just vs makabu

that said, fighting makabu would still be nice, it's not some weak ass move

[DrDuke]

That's a fun option, a one of the best for Canelo. However, the matchups against the LHWs Bivol and Beterbiev are ironically more challenging.

[Enlightened-One]

That's a fun option, a one of the best for Canelo. However, the matchups against the LHWs Bivol and Beterbiev are ironically more challenging.

You’re absolutely correct, but the Makabu bout is far bigger commercially, because the mainstream masses will inevitably buy into an history-making “David vs. Goliath” marketing narrative.

And personally-speaking, I’m not mad a Canelo for taking the Mukabu fight, because it won’t be an easy win and he’s daring to be great, whereas a lot of other fighters (i.e. Andrade, Charlo, Benavidez, Bivol, Beterbiev etc. are taking the easiest path to avoid missing out on a Canelo mega payday).

The funny thing is… gathering a padded resume whilst waiting for a Canelo payday will adversely affect their in-ring fighting ability, because fighters can’t gain experience or learn from their mistakes by constantly facing easy opposition.

And to be perfectly honest, Bivol might be Canelo’s toughest challenge, because he’s stylistically awkward, whereas Beterbiev is tailor-made for the Mexican.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Apparently WBC taking Cruiser back down to 190?

How they supposed to unify with other Cruiserweight at 200?

[DrDuke]

And to be perfectly honest, Bivol might be Canelo’s toughest challenge, because he’s stylistically awkward, whereas Beterbiev is tailor-made for the Mexican.

I won't write Beterbiev off. I thought, he had been tailor-made for Gvozdyk, but he had managed to box smart against him, to measure the pace well, to pick his punches wisely.

[Enlightened-One]

Apparently WBC taking Cruiser back down to 190?

How they supposed to unify with other Cruiserweight at 200?

The WBC announced the new 190lbs cruiserweight limit almost six weeks ago. It’s old news, meaning the change wasn't done specifically for Canelo.

I feel that most of us anticipate the other governing bodies following-suit imminently.

The WBC originally created the cruiserweight division in 1979 and the other governing bodies created theirs shortly afterward.

And around 2005, the cruiserweight limit was increased from 190lbs to 200lbs and all the governing bodies changed their rules accordingly.

If Canelo is likely to eventually engage in another 190lbs cruiserweight title fight (at some point after facing Mukabu), then I’d expect the WBA to change their rules to cash-in on the Mexican’s sanctioning fees.

[gregregegg]

Apparently WBC taking Cruiser back down to 190?

How they supposed to unify with other Cruiserweight at 200?

The WBC announced the new 190lbs cruiserweight limit almost six weeks ago. It’s old news, meaning the change wasn't done specifically for Canelo.

I feel that most of us anticipate the other governing bodies following-suit imminently.

The WBC originally created the cruiserweight division in 1979 and the other governing bodies created theirs shortly afterward.

And around 2005, the cruiserweight limit was increased from 190lbs to 200lbs and all the governing bodies changed their rules accordingly.

If Canelo is likely to eventually engage in another 190lbs cruiserweight title fight (at some point after facing Mukabu), then I’d expect the WBA to change their rules to cash-in on the Mexican’s sanctioning fees.

Not saying it was done specifically for canelo, But if it was, the WBC and team canelo are crafty enough to seperate the weight change and the cruiser fight option talk.

Side not, WBC now has as bad a gap from cruiser to bridger as the other orgs have from cruiser to heavyweight.. fix one "problem" create another. (although im glad there is an option now for people that are like 195lbs and are either tiny cruisers or weight drained 175s.)

[Enlightened-One]

Side not, WBC now has as bad a gap from cruiser to bridger as the other orgs have from cruiser to heavyweight.. fix one "problem" create another. (although im glad there is an option now for people that are like 195lbs and are either tiny cruisers or weight drained 175s.)

The WBC has addressed the 25lbs gap between light heavyweight and cruiserweight. And they also addressed the 47lbs void between cruiserweight and average heavyweights.

For instance:

Before:
• Super-middleweight -> Light heavyweight = 7lbs
• Light heavyweight -> Cruiserweight = 25lbs
• Cruiserweight -> Average heavyweight = 47lbs

After:
• Super-middleweight -> Light heavyweight = 7lbs
• Light heavyweight -> Cruiserweight = 15lbs
• Cruiserweight -> Bridgerweight = 34lbs
• Bridgerweight -> Average heavyweight = 23lbs

The WBC’s solution is far from ideal, but I feel that only one weight class between 175lb-ers and typical 247lbs heavyweights was far too great a weight difference.