“The Junior” Ilunga Makabu

Junior Ilunga Makabu is a Congolese-South African professional boxer, born on the 8th of November, 1987, who has held the WBC cruiserweight title since January 2020 and has also been challenged once for the same title in 2016.

As of November 2021, he is the world’s second-best active cruiserweight by BoxRec, third by The Ring magazine, and fourth by the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board.

He is the older brother of heavyweight boxer Martin Bakole.

Boxing Profile – Ilunga Makabu – Professional Carreer

Early career

His professional career began on 20 June 2008, when he lost four-round bouts fighting (by technical knockout in the first round) with the South African boxer Khayeni Hlungwane. 

The fight was at the Carousel Hotel & Casino in Temba in the province of North-West. 

On September 13, 2008, he achieved his first victory, defeating by technical knockout in the first round the representative of Zimbabwe Elvis Moyo. 

On 19 November 2011, he faced Brazilian Pedro Otas. 

A twelve-round fight was at Monte Casino in Johannesburg, starring Michael Buffer. 

The dominant Makabu ended the duel by technical knockout in the eleventh round.

He racked up an impressive 24 – 2 Record up to the fight for the WBC Silver Cruiserweight Title.

WBC Silver cruiserweight champion

Makabu vs. Kudryashov

Makabu had to fight Dmitry Kudryashov for the vacant WBC Silver cruiserweight title. This time, on June 16, 2019, at the KRK Uralets in Yekaterinburg, Russia. 

The two fighters had a combined 46 knockouts in 47 total fights, which led many media outlets to predict that the fight would end in a finish.

Makabu won the fight by a fifth-round technical knockout. 

Although Kudryashov wasn’t knockdown, the stream of punches near the end of the fifth round was enough for the referee to step in and stop the bout.

Makabu vs. Papin

On July 12, 2019, rumors surfaced that Makabu would defend his WBC Silver title against the undefeated Alexei Papin. At the time he was the #14 IBF cruiserweight contender.

On July 30, the WBC confirmed that the fight would take place on the Sergey Kovalev vs. Anthony Yarde undercard, on August 24, 2019, at the Traktor Sport Palace in Chelyabinsk, Russia.

Makabu won the fight by majority decision, with two judges scoring the fight 115–113 in his favor. Meanwhile, the third judge scored it as a 113–113 draw. 

Papin flog in the mid-rounds and was nearly down in the eight-round and twelfth rounds.

WBC cruiserweight champion

Makabu vs. Cieślak

Makabu had to face the undefeated Michał Cieślak for the vacant WBC cruiserweight title. This time, on January 31, 2020, at the Temporary Arena in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 

Cieślak had originally to fight Nuri Seferi on December 20, 2019, before he withdrew from that bout to face Makabu for the WBC title on January 18, 2020. 

However, due to some disagreements between Makabu and the WBC, the fight had to be on January 31.

Cieślak had further problems on the day before the fight; as both he and his promoters were asault at the hotel they were staying at in Kinshasa.

Cieślak had a great start to the fight and appeared close to finishing Makabu in the third round, only for the round to end a full minute early.

Makabu rebounded in the fourth round, knocking Cieślak down with two heavy blows, one of which was a blatant rabbit punch. 

Cieślak returned the favor in the fifth round, as Makabu was ruled to be in a state of knockdown after he touched the canvas with his glove. 

Makabu was awarded the unanimous decision after twelve rounds, with scores of 114–112, 115–111, and 116–111.

Makabu vs. Durodola

Makabu made his first defense of his WBC cruiserweight title against the reigning African cruiserweight champion Olanrewaju Durodola at the Studio Mama Angebi in Kinshasa, Congo.

He won the fight by a come-from-behind seventh-round knockout. 

Makabu appeared to be down on the scorecards after the first six rounds were fought, but rallied back to knock Durodola down with a pair of left hooks with a minute to go in the seventh round. 

Although Durodola managed to beat the eight-count, the referee nonetheless decided to wave off the fight.