KWAZULU-Natal will host the eagerly awaited WBC cruiserweight title eliminator between Thabiso "The Rock" Mchunu and Ilunga "Junior" Makabu, Main Events has announced.
Ellen Healey, a representative of the New York-based Main Events promotion company, revealed this to Sowetan yesterday after they won the rights to organise the bout.
The WBC ordered the bout during its annual convention, which took place in Las Vegas in December.
Main Events won the purse bid by tabling $175000 (about R2-million).
Main Events' interest in the All Africa bout stems from its promotional contract with Mchunu. Kathy Duva co-promotes Mchunu with Damien Michael of Showpony - a local based promoter.
Mchunu, from KwaZulu-Natal, is rated No.2 - a spot above the Democratic Republic of Congo's Makabu. They will split the purse money equally. The winner between the two will become mandatory challenger for WBC cruiserweight champion Grigory "Pretty Boy" Drozd.
"The fight will take place in your country [South Africa] in April. Remember his [Mchunu] three previous fights have all been in America because that is where we are. Fighting at home will give him that advantage," said Healey.
Mchunu last fought at home in 2007, when he made an impressive debut - defeating Mzikayise Hlengwa on points over four rounds.
He has fought most of his fights in Johannesburg where he is trained by Sean Smith. Sean guided Mchunu to victory for the ABU and NABF belts since they joined forces three years ago.
"I cannot properly express my feelings about this fight. This is a super bout that religious boxing followers want to see. People will see war from Thabiso, who will go on and win the actual WBC title from Grigory, unify it and be a super star," said Michael.
Mchunu and Makabu to clash
KWAZULU-Natal will host the eagerly awaited WBC cruiserweight title eliminator between Thabiso "The Rock" Mchunu and Ilunga "Junior" Makabu, Main Events has announced.
Ellen Healey, a representative of the New York-based Main Events promotion company, revealed this to Sowetan yesterday after they won the rights to organise the bout.
The WBC ordered the bout during its annual convention, which took place in Las Vegas in December.
Main Events won the purse bid by tabling $175000 (about R2-million).
Main Events' interest in the All Africa bout stems from its promotional contract with Mchunu. Kathy Duva co-promotes Mchunu with Damien Michael of Showpony - a local based promoter.
Mchunu, from KwaZulu-Natal, is rated No.2 - a spot above the Democratic Republic of Congo's Makabu. They will split the purse money equally. The winner between the two will become mandatory challenger for WBC cruiserweight champion Grigory "Pretty Boy" Drozd.
"The fight will take place in your country [South Africa] in April. Remember his [Mchunu] three previous fights have all been in America because that is where we are. Fighting at home will give him that advantage," said Healey.
Mchunu last fought at home in 2007, when he made an impressive debut - defeating Mzikayise Hlengwa on points over four rounds.
He has fought most of his fights in Johannesburg where he is trained by Sean Smith. Sean guided Mchunu to victory for the ABU and NABF belts since they joined forces three years ago.
"I cannot properly express my feelings about this fight. This is a super bout that religious boxing followers want to see. People will see war from Thabiso, who will go on and win the actual WBC title from Grigory, unify it and be a super star," said Michael.