Ilunga Makabu has become one of the luckiest boxers of 2023 after receiving a world title opportunity directly after losing. Makabu’s last fight resulted in him being stopped by Badou Jack, which resulted in Jack winning the WBC cruiserweight title. In an odd turn of events, however, Makabu’s November 4th fight, which was originally set as a non-title bout, has been changed to an actual world title fight as the vacant WBC cruiserweight belt has been included.
Because of the significance of the world title cruiserweight match between Ilunga Makabu (29-3, 25 KO’s) and Noel Gevor Mikaelyan (26-2, 11 KO’s), which will still be held at the Casino Miami Jai Alai in Miami, Florida, Adrien Broner’s (35-4-1, 24 KO’s) welterweight fight with Chris Howard (18-2-1, 8 KO’s), which was originally set to headline the card, will now be the main event on December 2nd at the same venue.
The vacant WBC cruiserweight title was recently relinquished by Badou Jack (28-3-3, 17 KO’s) as he was designated as the WBC champion-in-recess while he attempts to move up to the unrecognized bridgerweight division to reportedly face its current WBC champion Lukasz Rozanski (15-0, 14 KO’s).
Despite Makabu suffering a loss this year in February against Jack, his fight with Mikaelyan has suddenly turned into a title fight following Badou Jack’s venture to bridgerweight. Their fight had been ordered by the WBC in November of the previous year when Makabu was still the champion. A fight with Badou Jack in February, which resulted in Makabu losing by stoppage, seemed to have put a halt to the Makabu-Mikaelyan match, and there appeared to be a significant chance that Mikaelyan would challenge Jack subsequently.
However, due to a twist of fate, Jack is now the champion-in-recess, and the WBC cruiserweight title is again up for grabs. The winner of the Makabu-Mikaelyan fight stands a good chance to face Badou Jack, as Jack’s champion-in-recess status means that he is allowed to return and challenge for the WBC cruiserweight title following his yet-to-be-announced bridgerweight fight with Rozanski.
Complementing the November 4th card will be American former WBA ‘regular’ heavyweight champion Trevor Bryan (22-1, 15 KO), who will be facing fellow American Cassius Chaney (22-1, 15 KO). Another American heavyweight, the up-and-coming Jonathan Guidry (19-1-2, 11 KO), is also set to fight on November 4th. Guidry will be facing Puerto Rican heavyweight sensation Jesus Escalera (19-0, 19 KO), who boasts a perfect unbeaten record with a 100% KO ratio.
