Ilunga Makabu


Junior Ilunga Makabu is a Congolese professional boxer who has held the WBC cruiserweight title since January, and also challenged once for the same title in 2016. As of May 2020, he is ranked as 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.

Professional career

His professional career began 20 June 2008 by losing four round bouts fighting with the South African boxer Khayeni Hlungwane. The fight was held at the Carousel Hotel & Casino in Temba in the province of North-West.
September 13, 2008 relates his first victory by technical knockout in the first round of the representative of Zimbabwe Elvis Moyo.
19 November 2011 faced with Brazilian Pedro Otas. Twelve-round fight was organized at Monte Casino in Johannesburg, starring Michael Buffer. The predominant Makabu ended the duel by technical knockout in the eleventh round.

Makabu vs. Kucher

The duel took place July 13, 2013 in "The Casino" in Monte Carlo in Monaco. In 12 round balanced fight "Junior" he won at the ratio of two points to tie with passing for a Ukrainian favorite, winning the belt WBC Silver junior heavy weight. It was his fifteenth fight on a professional ring.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
29Win27–2 Michał CieślakUD1231 Jan 2020Kinshasa, Congo.png" />Won vacant WBC cruiserweight title
28Win26–2 Alexei PapinMD1224 Aug 2019 Traktor Sport Palace, Chelyabinsk, RussiaRetained WBC Silver cruiserweight title
27Win25–2 Dmitry KudryashovTKO5, 2:3616 Jun 2019 KRK Uralets, Yekaterinburg, RussiaWon vacant WBC Silver cruiserweight title
26Win24–2 Giorgi TevdorashviliKO2, 1:558 Dec 2018
25Win23–2 Paata AduashviliKO2 26 Oct 2018
24Win22–2 Taylor MabikaRTD4, 3:0022 Sep 2018 Grand Hôtel de Kinshasa, KinshasaWon WBC International cruiserweight title
23Win21–2 Mussa AjibuKO4 25 Aug 2017Conference Centre, Harare.png" />
22Win20–2 Chamunorwa GonorendaKO5 28 Apr 2017
21Loss19–2 Tony BellewKO3, 1:2029 May 2016For vacant WBC cruiserweight title
20Win19–1 Thabiso MchunuKO11, 1:5626 May 2015International Convention Centre, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal.png" />
19Win18–1 Tamas BajzathTKO3, 2:1505 Dec 2014
18Win17–1 Glen JohnsonTKO9, 2:4028 Jun 2014Won WBC International cruiserweight title
17Win16–1 Ruben Angel MinoKO2, 1:5301 Feb 2014
16Win15–1 Eric FieldsKO5, 1:5931 Aug 2013Kempton Park, Gauteng.png" />Retained WBC Silver cruiserweight title
15Win14–1 Dmytro KucherMD1213 Jul 2013Won vacant WBC Silver cruiserweight title
14Win13–1 Tamas LodiTKO3, 1:2930 Mar 2013
13Win12–1 Gogita GorgiladzeTKO4, 1:4916 Feb 2013Won vacant IBF Youth cruiserweight title
12Win11–1 Michael GbengaTKO5, 2:5324 Apr 2012Brakpan, Gauteng.png" />
11Win10–1 Pedro OtasTKO11, 2:5419 Nov 2011Won vacant WBF cruiserweight title
10Win9–1 Collice MutizwaKO1 11 Jun 2011
9Win8–1 Nsitu MbayaKO1 26 Mar 2011
8Win7–1 Danie VenterTKO6 30 Oct 2010
7Win6–1 Elvis MoyoTKO2 27 Mar 2010Hammanskraal, North-West.png" />
6Win5–1 Ben MoakamelaTKO2 07 Mar 2010
5Win4–1 Chamunorwa GonorendaTKO2 26 Feb 2010
4Win3–1 Sean SantanaTKO3 03 Jul 2009Lenasia, Gauteng.png" />
3Win2–1 Nicholas RamantswanaTKO1 18 Oct 2008Park Station Concourse, Johannesburg, Gauteng.png" />
2Win1–1 Elvis MoyoTKO1 13 Sep 2009
1Loss0–1 Khayeni HlungwaneTKO1, 0:2920 Jun 2008