British boxing could see another champion crowned tonight in Las Vegas, and at the end of the month, on the 29th, still another Brit could win a world title. Amir Khan goes up against the formidable Saul Canelo Alvarez tonight, in what is arguably the biggest fight of the year. And on May 29th in his native Liverpool, Tony Bellew goes in with another formidable, if less known foe in rock-hard and tricky southpaw Ilunga “Junior” Makabu.
Makabu is convinced he will ruin Tony Bellew’s chances of becoming WBC cruiserweight champion on the night of May 29th at Goodison Park. Makabu, 19-1(18) has been waiting for a world title chance for some time and since his May 2015 WBC elimination win over Thabiso Mchunu (won by Makabu via highlight reel KO) he has been inactive.
A shot at Grigory Drozd fell through due to injury on the part of the champion, but now Makabu finally gets his chance via his shot at the vacant belt.
Here the man born in The Democratic Republic of The Congo speaks exclusively about the Bellew clash:
James Slater: Firstly, how much have you seen of Tony Bellew and how do you rate him as a fighter?
Ilunga Makabu: “I saw his fight with Adonis Stevenson. He is a not bad fighter, but I tell you, he has never fought a lion like me before in his entire life. He is going to regret agreeing to fight me come May 29. That is a promise.”
J.S: This will be your first fight in the UK. Are you at all fazed by this? There could be as many as 30,000 fans in attendance in Bellew’s hometown; all of which will be cheering for him.
I.M: “Yes this will be my first fight over there but it doesn’t matter. I always fight hard and I will be at my best. And I must tell you, I will be very happy to see 30,000 fans in the arena, because they will all get to watch as I knock Bellew out. He cannot beat me and the fans will not help him. I will be totally focused on Bellew, not his fans. ”
J.S: Who do you feel your best performance came against so far, and who gave you your toughest fight?
I.M: “My best win came over Eric Fields, who I KO’d in five rounds. That was me at my best, so far. The toughest was Dimytri Kucher. I was unable to knock him out (winning a twelve-round majority verdict), he never hurt me but he was very tough. I boxed him.”
J.S: And what happened in your pro debut, when you were stopped inside the opening round by Khayeni Hlungwane?
I.M: “Well, you know I am a Frenchman, who of course speaks French. The referee in that fight, he was talking to me in English, and at that time I didn’t understand him very well. He was asking me if I wanted the fight to be stopped after I was knocked down and I didn’t understand what he was talking about. I just accepted him stopping the fight and I lost. That was my mistake and from then I made sure I started to learn English.”
J.S: Do you feel you are the best cruiserweight out there without a belt?
I.M: “I know I am the best in the world. No-one can stand in front of me. My uppercut is my best weapon and no-one can take it. I was supposed to fight [Grigory] Drozd (in April of this year) and after Bellew I want him. I want all the belts and I want to defend the belts against the best fighters. I am hungry and ready for my chance. Bellew has made a big mistake by taking this fight.”
J.S: You have not boxed since May of last year, when you defeated Thabiso Mchanu in a WBC eliminator. Do you have any concerns you may have some ring-rust?
I.M: “Oh, you do not need to worry about me with that. I spent seven months working and sparring at Floyd Mayweather’s Money Team gym in Las Vegas (from September of last year to March). I sparred heavyweights, cruiserweights and super-middleweights. I sparred [Charles] Martin, J’ Leon Love and Badou Jack. I worked with Eddie Mustafa Muhammad. Now it is my time to become world champion. I will see all my UK fans on May 29!”