Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez vs. Ilunga Makabu - WBC Approved

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Canelo Alvarez gets WBC's approval to fight Ilunga Junior Makabu for cruiserweight title

Canelo Alvarez could chase a title in a fifth weight class.

At the WBC Convention on Wednesday in Mexico City, the organization approved the request of Canelo's trainer and manager, Eddy Reynoso, to have Alvarez challenge Ilunga Junior Makabu for the cruiserweight championship.

Alvarez, ESPN's No. 1 pound-for-pound boxer, became undisputed champion at 168 pounds earlier this month with an 11th-round TKO of Caleb Plant. A win over Makabu would make Canelo (57-1-2, 39 KOs) a five-division champion.

Alvarez has never competed at cruiserweight, so Reynoso needed to petition the WBC to order the title fight. Now that the fight has been approved, negotiations can begin; and if no deal is struck, a purse bid will be ordered.

"I know ... what he has done with the heavyweights he spars with, and that is why we asked for the fight," Reynoso told ESPN Deportes' Salvador Rodriguez. "We know that [Makabu] is strong, but Canelo can beat him. ... Many may say that it is crazy, but they also said that it was crazy when Canelo was junior middleweight champion, and we were looking for middleweights, super middleweight, light heavyweights.

"I have a lot of confidence in Canelo. He is very strong and has many qualities, and I know that he is going to win that fight."

Alvarez, 31, fought once at 175 pounds, a November 2019 TKO victory over Sergey Kovalev for a light heavyweight title. He unified titles at 154 pounds and 160 pounds before that.

The cruiserweight limit is 200 pounds, but the WBC recently introduced an 18th weight class -- bridgerweight -- with a limit of 224 pounds. In a corresponding move, the Mexico-based organization is reducing the cruiserweight limit to 190 pounds, the same weight when the division was introduced in 1979, before it was increased by 10 pounds in 2004.

Reynoso told Rodriguez there have been some offers to fight in Congo, Makabu's birthplace.

"Let's see if something can be arranged for that to happen," he said. "It is one more challenge. Just as we took the challenges at 168 and 175 pounds, now we are going to cruiserweight."

Makabu, ESPN's No. 4 cruiserweight, has reeled off nine consecutive wins since he lost the title to Tony Bellew via third-round TKO in 2016.

He is promoted by Don King, who last month announced a deal for Makabu to fight Thabiso Mchunu. However, WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman claimed Mchunu wasn't ready to fight on Jan. 8, as planned.

Makabu, 34, said he was excited about the prospect of fighting Alvarez.

"I'm feeling very happy because I fight the best boxer in the planet," Makabu, who resides in Johannesburg, told Rodriguez. "Canelo has been beating everyone ... but now he's fighting one tough man.

"I'll fight anywhere. Even if they put on the fight in his own house with no public. I'll fight."

[gregregegg]

Is This really TBA? or is it very early Rumour mill? IM down for the thread either way i just need to know how to prepare mentaly...

[Cent0089]

There will be a lot of speculations like this. But it will be Charlo and Benavidez in 2022.

[margaret thatcher]

no its not tba yet

[Dioufy]

I heard that the WBC are moving to 175-190lbs. If this is at 200lbs it’ll be a great win for Alvarez. He’s jumping up over 2st ffs.

[(craig)]

Don King will be rubbing his mitts.

[DrDuke]

The funny thing is the fact, the the LHW matchups against Bivol and Beterbiev will be more challenging for Canelo. Makabu is a decent fighter, but he's less advanced, while it's proven, that he can be hurt, as he was kayoed by f*cking Phony Bellend.

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No ones ever heard off?



I don’t really have much desire for this to be May or September. Feel free to have a 3rd fight Canelo.

There has been offers for it to be in Congo.

Rumble in the Jungle 2

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[Foggy]

Going for the easiest fight at cruiserweight for a belt

[Webbo911]

Not even sure what to make of this. I'd definitely watch it though.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Going for the easiest fight at cruiserweight for a belt

Thought he’d go WBA.

But then, WBC are looking to change their CW limit back to 190..

[NoScoutingReports]

Going for the easiest fight at cruiserweight for a belt

But then, WBC are looking to change their CW limit back to 190..

Yeah I think the potential change of weight limit could be one of the main factors here, if that goes ahead it's less of a jump and restricts Makabu's size advantage too, to an extent (albeit not the biggest cruiser to begin with). Not the first or even 2nd fight I'd like to see Canelo in next but there's an intrigue to it I'd say.

[Foggy]

Going for the easiest fight at cruiserweight for a belt

But then, WBC are looking to change their CW limit back to 190..

A few years again I could name all the champions in each division now I struggle, the WBA as usual have a regular and super champion at cruiserweight non of which I’d heard of before

Yeah I think the potential change of weight limit could be one of the main factors here, if that goes ahead it's less of a jump and restricts Makabu's size advantage too, to an extent (albeit not the biggest cruiser to begin with). Not the first or even 2nd fight I'd like to see Canelo in next but there's an intrigue to it I'd say.

[Monzon83]

I think it's a comfortable win for him. Makabu isn't that good and if they can drag him down to 190 even better for Saul.

Canelo probably walks around 180 so adding 10lbs of muscle with some 'protein and supplements' won't be too difficult.

[peter barlow]

[Boxerbeetle]

[jamesmcdonnell]

I can see him picking up a belt at cruiser, then maybe angling for a tilt at heavy if Usyk is champ.

He would have nothing to lose, and if he somehow pulled off an improbable win, then he's made history, again.

[jamesmcdonnell]

I think it's fair to say though, that provided Makubu isn't weight drained at 190, this is going to be a tough night's work.

Canelo is probably a natural 168 pounder, at 175 he cherry picked a guy who was showing signs of decline, I've not seen Makubu, but this is still risky, if he's fresh and strong, then could easily come unstuck.

I'd rather see Canelo take on the best at 175, but it's definitely got intrigue.

[cormack]

easy night for canelo

[CaptainSpacerod]

Another cherry picked overmatched opponent. Someone as limited as Bellew knocked this guy out years ago.

Since he lost to GGG i think Canelo has only fought one live opponent - Jacobs.