Makabu’s powerful knock puts Fields out
Sizzling cruiserweight Ilunga Makabu successfully retained his WBC silver crown in style.
Sizzling cruiserweight Ilunga Makabu successfully retained his WBC silver crown in style, by knocking out American challenger Eric Fields in the fifth round at Emperors Palace, during Triple Thunder on Saturday, August 31.
The charismatic Makabu (25) allowed Fields to take shots at his body as if he were sizing up his opponent before delivering the killer blow that put Fields to the floor.
Despite the American’s 2.5kg advantage on the scale, it was the 86.5kg Makabu who enflicted more damage on his opponent during the early stages of the bout, as the boxers exchanged rights-and-lefts.
When Makabu began assuming ascendency with his deadly uppercuts, his momentum was confirmed as blood slowly began to trickle from Fields’ nose, as the champion started opening up, and mixing his punches to great effect as every uppercut did its damage.
The uppercut seemed to be Makabu’s deadliest weapon, and it was no different in the third round when the champion delivered one which weakened Fields’ knees towards the end of the round.
Fields’ never-say-die attitude kept the bout alive as he tried landing punches of his own, despite being on the backfoot.
Makabu emitted his trademark war-like cry before delivering the knockout blow, which took his fight record to 14 knockouts in 16 bouts with just one loss.
In other supporting bouts, former world number one strawweight and former number one IBF champion, Nkosi Nathi Joyi, secured a ninth round KO win over Filipino Benezer Alolod.
Ryno Liebenberg obtained a convincing first-round knock-out victory over Gabriel Ramirez for the WBC light-heavyweight silver belt, while Tshepang Mohale was on the wrong end of the result against Johnny Muller for the SA light-heavyweight title, after suffering a ninth round TKO.
