Ilunga Makabu Defeats Thabiso Mchunu, Looking To Still Fight Canelo Alvarez
Ilunga Makabu is on his way to the biggest, most lucrative fight of his career against Saul “Canelo” Alvarez this year after retaining his WBC cruiserweight championship against Thabiso Mchunu on Saturday night at the Packard Music Hall in Warren, Ohio.
The Congolese fighter (29-2, 25 KOs) won the fight via split decision. One judge scored it 115-113 for the champ, the second gave it 115-113 for the challenger, while the last one scored it 116-112 for Makabu.
Many social media users were quick to criticize the third judge’s scorecard as they believe a fight as close as this should not have such distance between the scores.
Ilunga Makabu beats Thabiso Mchunu in one of the biggest robberys in recent years I had the fight 11-1 Mchunu he countered him all night Makabu was just following him around this was the most sharp vershion of Mchunu I ever seen but you know what happens on a don king card pic.twitter.com/Bn8DlJENrm
— Kone (@kone96801216) January 30, 2022
Eight rounds for Makabu is criminal.
Seven rounds for Makabu is horrible.
Mchunu just got robbed.
— Jim Karas (@JimKarasBoxing) January 30, 2022
Mchunu, who was visibly a better, well-rounded fighter in the bout, was in disbelief after the results were announced. He shoved away Makabu when the WBC titlist tried to hug him after the fight.
Makabu tried to hug Mchunu after the fight but was shoved away. #MakabuMchunu pic.twitter.com/e3TpFD8TKI
— Lo (@lohanshaw) January 30, 2022
In the post-fight interview, Makabu broke down his gameplan.
“Today, I didn’t come for a knockout,” he said. “I just came to box, to show him that I can box because my next fight with Saul ‘Canelo,’ I’m going to box and knock you out, baby!”