Canelo Alvarez’s next rumble has just been approved by the World Boxing Council to be against the WBC cruiserweight world champion Ilunga Makabu.
The African warrior born in Congo is standing in Canelo’s way to becoming a 5-division world champion as the skilled Mexican builds a stunning legacy in boxing.
Not many fans saw this fight coming as most observers have been thinking about Canelo staying at 168 to rumble with unbeaten 2-time world champion David Benavidez, middleweight champion Jermall Charlo or old nemesis Gennadiy Golovkin.
However, Eddie Reynoso, Canelo’s manager and head trainer, is excited about his boxer’s coming rumble against the much bigger Makabu.
“I know what Canelo has done to the heavyweights he has sparred with, and that is why we have asked for the fight against Makabu,” Reynoso said to ESPN Deportes.
“We know that Makabu is strong, but Canelo can beat him. (Even though) many may say that this is crazy. But they also said that it was crazy when Canelo was a junior middleweight champion looking to fight middleweights, super middleweight and light heavyweights. I have a lot of confidence in Canelo.”
“He is very strong, and has many qualities, and I know that he is going to win his fight (against Makabu).”
The contest, which is targeted for May of next year, will see Canelo jumped up to a weight class where the limit is 200-pounds – 32 more than Canelo’s last ring outing.
