Ilunga Makabu successfully defended his World Boxing Council (WBC) cruiserweight title with a controversial split decision win over Thabiso Mchunu at the Packard Music Hall in Warren, Ohio, United States on Sunday morning, South African time.
But it has to be said that Makabu from the Democratic Republic of Congo got outboxed by KwaXimba-born Mchunu despite two judges – Steve Weisfeld and Jamie Garayua – giving him the nod.
This fight failed to live up to expectations and there is no doubt that the American audience was not sold as two judges Weisfeld and Garayua scored the duel 115-113 and 116-112 respectively for Makabu against Nathan Palmer’s 115-113 for Mchunu.
Meanwhile, the victory means that the 34-year-old Makabu, who is based in Johannesburg, might get a chance to defend against Mexican Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez.
