Ilunga Makabu is the Newest Champ in the Interesting Cruiserweight Division

The famed American promoter Don King owns a piece of new WBC cruiserweight champion Ilunga Makabu although it’s a tenuous piece that may not survive a court challenge. King being King, he wasted no time billing yesterday’s fight at Kinshasa between Makabu and Poland’s Michel Cieslak for the vacant WBC belt as “Rumble in the Jungle 2.”

That was over the top, but one could fairly claim that Makabu vs. Cieslak was the most important fight in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire) since Muhammad Ali’s celebrated triumph over George Foreman here in Kinshasa in 1974. And when the smoke cleared, the local man, Makabu, claimed the vacant title, prevailing by a unanimous decision (116-111, 115-111, 114-112) over an opponent that had fared well in his recent bouts against African fighters, stopping Congo-born Youri Kalenga and Nigeria’s Olanrewaju Durodola.

Makabu was hurt in the third round which conveniently ended early, but he out-worked the previously undefeated Pole, now 19-1, in the late rounds and was fairly deemed the victor.

It’s been a long road for Makabu (27-2, 24 KOs) who ventured alone to Johannesburg, South Africa, at age 20 for his pro debut and was knocked out in 29 seconds. He was subsequently stopped by Tony Bellew in Liverpool in his first stab at this belt which was then likewise vacant.

Makabu, 32, fought his way back into title contention with seven wins in six different countries. He plans to celebrate his newly-won title with a tour of the continent of Africa and will undoubtedly have one-eye cocked at the forthcoming fight in Riga, Latvia, and the possible unification fight opportunity that will emerge from it.

The two best cruiserweights in the world (so say the most respected entities) will tangle there on March 21 when IBF title-holder Yuniel (aka Yunier) Dorticos meets Riga native Maris Briedis in the finals of the long-drawn-out WBSS cruiserweight tournament.

The 35-year-old Briedis (26-1, 19 KOs) and the 33-year-old Dorticos (24-1, 22 KOs) are holdovers from the inaugural edition of the WBSS cruiserweight tourney. Both advanced to the semis where they suffered their first loss. Briedis gave Oleksandr Usyk a difficult time before losing a majority decision. Dorticos was stopped late in the 12^th round of a humdinger of a fight with Murat Gassiev, a match contested on Gassiev’s turf in Russia

Breidis and Dorticos looked impressive in advancing to the finals of Season 2, albeit Briedis’s third round stoppage of Krzysztof Glowacki was mired in controversy. He decked Glowacki three times, the first with an elbow and the second after the bell ending round 2 while visiting Nevada referee Robert Byrd, who turned 77 this past New Year’s Eve, was out to lunch. Dorticos lived up to his nickname “KO Doctor” with a highlight reel 10^th round knockout of Andrew Tabiti. Both fights were held on the same card in Riga which has become something of the unofficial home of the WBSS 200-pound tournament.

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