Defeat is not an option for Thabiso Mchunu when the muscleman - nicknamed "The Rock" - takes on Ilunga "Junior" Makabu in a battle of gifted left-handers at the Durban ICC tomorrow night.
This is because Mchunu is already rated No1 by the World Boxing Council in the cruiserweight division. By rights he should have been waiting on the winner of the bout between defending WBC champion Grigory Drozd and Krysztof Wlodarczyk in Russia on May 22 in Russia.
But the WBC championship committee saw fit that Mchunu must face the third-rated Makabu in the official eliminator.
Main Events won the purse bid but boss Kathy Duva gave the rights to her South African associate Damian Michael, who co-promotes Mchunu with her.
Michael then roped in Thulani Magudulela, whose Ludonga Boxing Promotions will stage the fight between Mchunu, from KwaXimba in Pietermaritzburg, and the Democratic Republic of Congo's Makabu.
Mchunu rose to the WBC's top 10 after winning the North American Boxing Federation belt in January. NABF champions are given consideration in the world rankings by the WBC.
A first title defence on September 20 catapulted him into the top five . Mchunu has left 10 of his 16 victims gasping for air , with his only defeat coming against Zack Mwekassa.
Makabu sprang to prominence by winning the WBC Silver belt in Monaco in 2013. A successful defence and victory for the WBC International belt in June last year took him to the top five.
Makabu boasts 17 knockouts from 18 wins against a first-round stoppage defeat on his debut in 2008.
Daniel Van de Wiele from Belgium will be the referee while Lateef Muiss from Nigeria, Atta Eddie Pappoe from Ghana and John Shipakule from Zambia will be ringside judges.
The tournament will be televised by SuperSport from 8pm.
Rock can't afford to crumble to Makabu
Defeat is not an option for Thabiso Mchunu when the muscleman - nicknamed "The Rock" - takes on Ilunga "Junior" Makabu in a battle of gifted left-handers at the Durban ICC tomorrow night.
This is because Mchunu is already rated No1 by the World Boxing Council in the cruiserweight division. By rights he should have been waiting on the winner of the bout between defending WBC champion Grigory Drozd and Krysztof Wlodarczyk in Russia on May 22 in Russia.
But the WBC championship committee saw fit that Mchunu must face the third-rated Makabu in the official eliminator.
Main Events won the purse bid but boss Kathy Duva gave the rights to her South African associate Damian Michael, who co-promotes Mchunu with her.
Michael then roped in Thulani Magudulela, whose Ludonga Boxing Promotions will stage the fight between Mchunu, from KwaXimba in Pietermaritzburg, and the Democratic Republic of Congo's Makabu.
Mchunu rose to the WBC's top 10 after winning the North American Boxing Federation belt in January. NABF champions are given consideration in the world rankings by the WBC.
A first title defence on September 20 catapulted him into the top five . Mchunu has left 10 of his 16 victims gasping for air , with his only defeat coming against Zack Mwekassa.
Makabu sprang to prominence by winning the WBC Silver belt in Monaco in 2013. A successful defence and victory for the WBC International belt in June last year took him to the top five.
Makabu boasts 17 knockouts from 18 wins against a first-round stoppage defeat on his debut in 2008.
Daniel Van de Wiele from Belgium will be the referee while Lateef Muiss from Nigeria, Atta Eddie Pappoe from Ghana and John Shipakule from Zambia will be ringside judges.
The tournament will be televised by SuperSport from 8pm.
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