Boxing: Junior Ilunga Makabu eyes world title recapture
Boxing: Junior Ilunga is targeting Saul Canelo Alvarez. The Mexican boxer is WBA, WBA and WBO super-middleweight world champion.
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Junior Ilunga Makabu made his return to the ring on Saturday 21 December in Kinshasa, thirteen months after his last defeat, against German-Armenian Noël Mikaelian. It was a winning comeback for the Congolese boxer, who claimed the WBC Africa belt by knocking out Egypt's Wagdy Attia in the 3rd round.
On the road to winning back the world title
This latest win opens the way for Junior Ilunga Makabu to win back the WBC world cruiserweight belt, which he lost on 27 February 2023 when he was knocked out in the 11th round by Sweden's Badou Jack.
His first attempt to regain it then fell short with the defeat by Noël Mikaelian in November 2023, but Junior Ilunga believes he is back in good enough shape to see the job through this time. "People thought it was over for me, but that is not the case. Boxing is like politics: if you are not respected at home, you will not be respected abroad. People talked a lot without knowing the full story behind my last two defeats, but I am back. I did not want to say too much on social media. I thank the President of the Republic and the President of the Federation for supporting me", he said.
Junior Ilunga Makabu now intends to go after the vacant WBC world cruiserweight belt as early as March 2025.
Saül Canelo Alvarez in his sights
After beating Wagdy Attia, Junior Ilunga Makabu is already looking beyond the recapture of the world title, with his focus on a formidable opponent, Saul Canelo Alvarez. The Mexican boxer is WBA, WBA and WBO super-middleweight world champion.
Junior Ilunga Makabu wants to revive an old storyline and finally land the fight that should have taken place in May 2022, when he was still WBC cruiserweight world champion, but which ultimately never happened. "I am now ready to win back my WBC title and then take on Canelo. I did not go looking for Canelo back then, he came looking for me, and as soon as I get my belt back in March 2025, I will go after him", he insists.
While waiting to learn the name of his next opponent in March for the ultimate world title fight, Junior Ilunga Makabu will continue his preparation, determined to become world champion again at 37.