Badou Jack Scores Impressive TKO Over Makabu For WBC Title

Sunday night in the Middle East Badou Jack turned back “the hands of Father Time” and clearly did not look his 39 years, as he pummeled WBC Cruiserweight World Champ Ilunga “Junior” Makubu on his way to a 12th round TKO win to become a world champion, yet again.

Thre bout was the co-feature on the Jake Paul – Tommy Fury Pay-per-view undercard from Diriyah, Saudi Arabia.

BADOU JACK IS A THREE WEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION! 🥊🏆

He stops Ilunga Makabu in the 12th round! 💥#PaulFury | BT Sport Box Office ▶️ https://t.co/3OyKxNePSD pic.twitter.com/s5JhVH6aJw

— Boxing on BT Sport 🥊 (@BTSportBoxing) February 26, 2023

Jack dominated almost from the beginning, especially with lead right hands and solid left hooks taking it to the champion early and often, while establishing himself. Makabu was making his third defense of his WBC belt, but had been off for 13 months, since beating Thabiso Mchunu by decision in January 2022. He clearly showed some ring rust may have been showing early as Jack gained confidence.

The former super middleweight and light heavyweight world champ, Jack was simply quicker to the punch despite his age. Jack was never seriously hurt, as he continued to land lead right hands and combinations behind them as the fight we’re on. He scored his first knocked down with a solid right in the fourth round and it was obvious his power was bigger than Makubu.

And, it became more and more obvious that Makabu would need a late stages heroic performance to try to pull out a win.

In the end though, Jack had too much for the champion dropping him with a couple of right hands halfway through the 11th round. Makabu was clearly tired and hurt, but able to survive. Still, he ate some serious shots from Jack who landed 28 power punches in the second to last round of the fight.

Then, very quickly in the 12th frame Jack again popped Makubu with a right hand and then a barrage of punches along the ropes, which warranted referee Mark Lyson jumping between the two fighters to end it at: 54 seconds of the 12th.

The win gives Jack another world title his first since he held the 2019, when Marcus Browne took his WBC 175 lb. crown on a decision. Jack also lost in his next bout challenging for the unified titles at 175 lb. to Jean Pascal by controversial split decision. But, undaunted in his late 30’s, Jack won five fights over the last three years to get the title shot Sunday night.