[Boxing] Canelo Alvarez vs. Ilunga Makabu

[Jating]

Correct me if I'm wrong, if he ever gets heavier, it doesn't mean he has to catch up with the weight required right? He just has to make sure not to go over the weight required.

True, there's no minimum weight, only maximum. In theory, Canelo can even fight Fury in his current weight class (super middleweight) without adding more fat muscle, but it will be a suicide. As force is mass x acceleration, it's easier to put a lot of weight to get much force needed for KO opponents. Yes, Canelo with his speed advantage, can dance and outbox his opponent, but it's like dancing on a sharp blade as one hit can slow him down, and punish him. So Canelo's most rational strategy would be gaining a lot of "pure" muscle (if there's enough time), if he can't do that, we will see FAT CANELO 

Only way for Canelo to gain pure muscle to at least reach CW is to used enhancing drugs (PEDS). So I doubt that we will take that route. Maybe he will take the weight room and lift weights to gain mass and muscle.

But yes it could affect his speed, so we are not sure why Canelo decided to move to CW and totally skip LHW (175 lbs), which is far more achievable. And he has one fight as LHW and won.

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[robelneo]

Makabu lost to Tony Bellew via knock out but Bellew is a huge fighter with a big punch and that was five years ago, Makabu is a big puncher but lack ring generalship he can easily get hit he loves to go toe to toe if Canelo can take Makabu's punch he has a good chance, but we have to understand adding more than 35 pounds will have a huge effect on your movement and this is something Canelo has to deal fighting in the cruiserweight.

[bisdak40]

Great decision by  Canelo Alvarez, moving up gives him a better opportunity to prove that he can become a champion in a high division. There's nothing for him to prove since he is already an undisputed champion in his current division.

There is nothing for him in his current division as GGG will likely lose in his fight with Murata this December  .

Makabu poses a legit threat to Canelo's career as the former is much bigger than him and as we all know Canelo seems to have a problem with heavier guys.

This fight will happen in May as the highlight of Cinco de Mayo festivities.

[samcrypto]

What? Seriously we get to see FAT CANELO? He won't get taller, so get fat is the only option
Well, to be fair, Canelo only 3cm shorter than Mike Tyson, so in theory he can still compete even in heavyweight if he puts a lot of weight.
I don't think this is a good decision tho, since I don't want to see FAT CANELO.

I smell so much hate here, being fat is not a big deal as long as you are qualified for the weight standard and if you have a strong power to knock out your opponent I guess that's more of the advantage, and many fighters have the same story. We've seen Canelo dominating his previous match, so technically this is a follow up match to continue making his name in boxing, let's wait for their final announcement if this will push through.

[carlisle1]

Makabu lost to Tony Bellew via knock out but Bellew is a huge fighter with a big punch and that was five years ago, Makabu is a big puncher but lack ring generalship he can easily get hit he loves to go toe to toe if Canelo can take Makabu's punch he has a good chance, but we have to understand adding more than 35 pounds will have a huge effect on your movement and this is something Canelo has to deal fighting in the cruiserweight.

Additional weight, if not being workout correctly, will affect all his movements, especially his speed.
But knowing Canelo and his camp, they are good at preparing and always up to the challenge, for me, it's a wise decision as a fighter.

If he thinks that there's nothing left for him from his current division, moving up and challenge a much bigger one is a nice move for his career.

We don't know what adjustments he needs to do, but the chance of winning is always up for Alvarez. I still see him doing the same strategy, observing and checking if what kind of opponent Makabu is, before engaging and throwing his best attacks.

[Natalim]

Great decision by  Canelo Alvarez, moving up gives him a better opportunity to prove that he can become a champion in a high division. There's nothing for him to prove since he is already an undisputed champion in his current division.

There is nothing for him in his current division as GGG will likely lose in his fight with Murata this December  .

That's not gonna happen because we will see once again a fight between GGG and Canelo. 

Makabu poses a legit threat to Canelo's career as the former is much bigger than him and as we all know Canelo seems to have a problem with heavier guys.

This fight will happen in May as the highlight of Cinco de Mayo festivities.

Well, you have a point as I have not seen Canelo fought against a heavier fighter, and if he loses here then most likely the trilogy of Canelo and GGG that we are waiting for might finally happen.

[fortunecrypto]

Makabu poses a legit threat to Canelo's career as the former is much bigger than him and as we all know Canelo seems to have a problem with heavier guys.

This fight will happen in May as the highlight of Cinco de Mayo festivities.

Is Canelo asking too much that he jumps from Super Middleweight to Cruiserweight, almost a heavyweight, I remember DeLa Hoya jumping from welterweight to Middleweight against Hopkins, Dela Hoya's additional weight put too much pressure as he cannot move fast but this is something interesting, Canelo wants to be the greatest Mexican boxer of all time and he cannot achieve it by being a champion in 4 weight category he must conquer territories, he has a great trainer in Reynoso, but the pressure in this weight category is too much.

[Vaculin]

Makabu poses a legit threat to Canelo's career as the former is much bigger than him and as we all know Canelo seems to have a problem with heavier guys.

This fight will happen in May as the highlight of Cinco de Mayo festivities.

Is Canelo asking too much that he jumps from Super Middleweight to Cruiserweight, almost a heavyweight, I remember DeLa Hoya jumping from welterweight to Middleweight against Hopkins, Dela Hoya's additional weight put too much pressure as he cannot move fast but this is something interesting, Canelo wants to be the greatest Mexican boxer of all time and he cannot achieve it by being a champion in 4 weight category he must conquer territories, he has a great trainer in Reynoso, but the pressure in this weight category is too much.

He can't be the greatest boxer of all time because at his age now, he cannot surpass the achievement of Manny Pacquiao which is the only 8th division world champion. however, he can always try to move up in weight and be a champion in such weight, we just have to believe in him just like him believing himself he could.

[Cling18]

Canelo is already creating a good record on the boxing field and I'm surprised that he's going to have another rematch with just a short interval of time. I believe that he has a huge potential to be like Manny Pacquiao though he still has a lot to go through. Makabu should be well prepared to face Canelo for him to beat him and it will surely be a tough match for him.

[Ziskinberg]

Canelo is already creating a good record on the boxing field and I'm surprised that he's going to have another rematch with just a short interval of time.

This isn't a rematch, he never fought  Ilunga Makabu yet, actually, he is moving in weight a challenge  Ilunga Makabu which is bigger and heavier than him, also he has a high KO ratio based on his record.

https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/457720

I believe that he has a huge potential to be like Manny Pacquiao though he still has a lot to go through. Makabu should be well prepared to face Canelo for him to beat him and it will surely be a tough match for him.

I doubt the will surpassed Manny Pacquiao, experts believe that it takes a decade to see a fighter to surpass his record, so probably not coming from the active boxers now.

[aioc]

After becoming undisputed champion at super middleweight Canelo is now prepared for his next challenge. He will be moving up two weight classes to face WBC cruiserweight champion Ilunga Makabu. This opponent is not very well known but he has a high knockout percentage with 25 KOs in 28 victories and he has not had a loss in over 5 years. It will be an impressive feat if Canelo can become champion at cruiserweight after starting his career fighting in the jr. welterweight division.

I have to watch some of Makabu's past fights to assess Canelo's chances against him, he is also a slow starter jab a lot with good head movement, I have never seen Canelo badly hurt from his welterweight up to his middleweight days and up now that is in the super welterweight and Makabu did not possess a Wilder kind of punch so I think Canelo has a pretty good chance, he is more technical and he knows how to counter any of his opponents best punches.

[DarkDays]

After becoming undisputed champion at super middleweight Canelo is now prepared for his next challenge. He will be moving up two weight classes to face WBC cruiserweight champion Ilunga Makabu. This opponent is not very well known but he has a high knockout percentage with 25 KOs in 28 victories and he has not had a loss in over 5 years. It will be an impressive feat if Canelo can become champion at cruiserweight after starting his career fighting in the jr. welterweight division.

The upgrade in weight class will surely make it difficult for Canelo to compete at the home level of Ilunga. But then this guy seems to be pushing himself, he is a beast within his own devision but I don't know if this will be enough to go against Illunga who's fighting in his comfort zone.

The fight will sure be interesting to watch and although I side with Canelo (knowing him and his fighting style) but if the tables turn I wouldn't be that surprised.

[Fundamentals Of]

I can see nothing special with Ilunga Makabu. The man may be bigger and heavier but I guess Canelo is very much in his peak right now. I think Canelo can dismantle this boxer easily. Compared to Caleb, I think Makabu is the easier opponent. This man might only end up being a punching against Canelo. Since he has a bigger body, he will just become a bigger and easier target. Canelo's power is a destroyer. Makabu will likely end up knocked out.

[TopTort777]

Hope this fight wont repeat Canelo vs Kovalev scenario, when bored of boxing Kovalev just sold his belt to Canelo.  

I am not quite familiar with Makabu. On paper we just see numbers, but how is Makabu in action? Before I watch some of his fight, can you drop me a short review of him? At a glance he might have enough skills to give Canelo an equal fight.

Why Canelo is smiling or laughing on the picture? No hate (yet) between them?

[coin-investor]

After becoming undisputed champion at super middleweight Canelo is now prepared for his next challenge. He will be moving up two weight classes to face WBC cruiserweight champion Ilunga Makabu. This opponent is not very well known but he has a high knockout percentage with 25 KOs in 28 victories and he has not had a loss in over 5 years. It will be an impressive feat if Canelo can become champion at cruiserweight after starting his career fighting in the jr. welterweight division.

There's not much height difference between the two fighters, Canelo has been fighting fighters that taller than him and who moves around, this is one of the time that he is facing a fighter who loves to engage and go toe to toe, this may be one of the reasons why they picked Makabu, Makabu does not run always moving forward, I've seen some of his fights he is strong but not really that dangerous.
If Canelo can take a hard punch from Makabu he can also conquer the Cruiserweight division, I expect Canelo to be the favorite here.

[Baofeng]

It looks like they are friendly in the convention, image for comparison:



So Ilunga is obviously the natural bigger guy, but Canelo is fight this guy in my opinion.

He will be going around 180 lbs, maybe we can see a fat Canelo, or a more muscular here, but I still him having a good chance to bet Ilunga at this division. Reminds of Pacquiao vs Clottey.

I think Ilunga will just turtle up in this fight and get his biggest pay check. It seems that this is being set up by WBC itself.

[bisdak40]

I can see nothing special with Ilunga Makabu. The man may be bigger and heavier but I guess Canelo is very much in his peak right now. I think Canelo can dismantle this boxer easily. Compared to Caleb, I think Makabu is the easier opponent. This man might only end up being a punching against Canelo. Since he has a bigger body, he will just become a bigger and easier target. Canelo's power is a destroyer. Makabu will likely end up knocked out.

That remains to be seen because Makabu will be fighting in his comfort zone and obviously he is the bigger and heavier fighter. As I said, Canelo seems to be having problems fighting with heavier fighters, in fact, on one occasion it's stipulated in the contract the fight weight (forgot the opponent) so the opponent can't go bigger during the fight.

Nevertheless, it's a good move for Canelo to push himself because there is not many fighters to fight in the Super Middleweight division.

[Sled]

I can see nothing special with Ilunga Makabu. The man may be bigger and heavier but I guess Canelo is very much in his peak right now. I think Canelo can dismantle this boxer easily. Compared to Caleb, I think Makabu is the easier opponent. This man might only end up being a punching against Canelo. Since he has a bigger body, he will just become a bigger and easier target. Canelo's power is a destroyer. Makabu will likely end up knocked out.

That remains to be seen because Makabu will be fighting in his comfort zone and obviously he is the bigger and heavier fighter. As I said, Canelo seems to be having problems fighting with heavier fighters, in fact, on one occasion it's stipulated in the contract the fight weight (forgot the opponent) so the opponent can't go bigger during the fight.

Nevertheless, it's a good move for Canelo to push himself because there is not many fighters to fight in the Super Middleweight division.

I could say it was a big mistake for Canelo to jump to the next level, that probably it is not his comfort zone. If that prospected fight will commence, I don't bet Canelo. We know that he can fight hard and tough guys but with the height advantage of his opponent, that gonna be difficult for him honestly.

Well anyway, he can't learn more if he is not able to step forward and that was the time he could realize that he was wrong.

[YinShuiSiYuan]

Ilunga Makabu statistics look really impressive. He seems to be a very dangerous opponent for Canelo. However, if Canelo continues to train hard and takes this fight seriously, I think he will easily add a third defeat to the Congo figher record.

[AmoreJaz]

I can see nothing special with Ilunga Makabu. The man may be bigger and heavier but I guess Canelo is very much in his peak right now. I think Canelo can dismantle this boxer easily. Compared to Caleb, I think Makabu is the easier opponent. This man might only end up being a punching against Canelo. Since he has a bigger body, he will just become a bigger and easier target. Canelo's power is a destroyer. Makabu will likely end up knocked out.

That remains to be seen because Makabu will be fighting in his comfort zone and obviously he is the bigger and heavier fighter. As I said, Canelo seems to be having problems fighting with heavier fighters, in fact, on one occasion it's stipulated in the contract the fight weight (forgot the opponent) so the opponent can't go bigger during the fight.

Nevertheless, it's a good move for Canelo to push himself because there is not many fighters to fight in the Super Middleweight division.

this is quite a challenge for canelo, he needs to train hard on this one as he increases his weight. makabu has the advantages but if canelo will formulate tactics on how to defeat him, given that makabu is in his comfort zone.
am guessing the gap of odds will not be wide here. but canelo may be a slight favourite.