Ilunga Makabu vs. Olanrewaju Durodola - December 6, 2017
Posted: 02 Nov 2017, 12:52
Even the parts of the cruiserweight division that aren’t in the WBSS are staying busy. World Boxing News reports that African knockout artists Ilunga Makabu and Olanrewaju Durodola will do battle on December 6th in Dubai.
The two are ranked #6 and #8, respectively, by the WBC, and will be fighting for the “Silver” belt, which means the winner will presumably be in line to fight whoever winds up with the main title at the end of the WBSS.
Makabu (21-2, 20 KO) leveled Thabiso Mchunu to become the mandatory challenger for Grigory Drozd’s WBC title, only to fight Tony Bellew instead when persistent injuries kept Drozd on the sideline. He dropped “Bomber” in the first round, but succumbed to a barrage of punches in the third.
Durodola (27-4, 25 KO) scored one of 2015’s most impressive upsets when he beat down Dmitry Kudryashov in the second round. He had considerably less success against Mairis Briedis in a title eliminator and, after some get-well fights, came up short in a grueling rematch with Kudryashov last June.
Both Makabu and Durodola have won two tuneups by knockout since their most recent defeats.
The two are ranked #6 and #8, respectively, by the WBC, and will be fighting for the “Silver” belt, which means the winner will presumably be in line to fight whoever winds up with the main title at the end of the WBSS.
Makabu (21-2, 20 KO) leveled Thabiso Mchunu to become the mandatory challenger for Grigory Drozd’s WBC title, only to fight Tony Bellew instead when persistent injuries kept Drozd on the sideline. He dropped “Bomber” in the first round, but succumbed to a barrage of punches in the third.
Durodola (27-4, 25 KO) scored one of 2015’s most impressive upsets when he beat down Dmitry Kudryashov in the second round. He had considerably less success against Mairis Briedis in a title eliminator and, after some get-well fights, came up short in a grueling rematch with Kudryashov last June.
Both Makabu and Durodola have won two tuneups by knockout since their most recent defeats.