Thabiso Mchunu “The Dragon Slayer” breathing fire in Mexico
By James Blears
On January 29th at the Packard Music Hall in Warren Ohio, a titanic fight, when World Boxing Council cruiserweight champion Junior Illunga Makabu (28-2, 25KOs) defends his Green and Gold Belt against WBC Silver Champion Thabiso Mchunu (23-5, 13KOs).
Both are southpaws and this will be their second fight. In 2015 they clashed in a WBC Eliminator. Thabiso dominated the first six rounds. Illunga fought back to KO him in the 11th part of a thrilling encounter. Now they're poised to give us a second helping.
At the WBC Convention in November Eddy Reynoso gained the permission of the Board of Governors for Saul Canelo Alvarez to seek a fifth divisional title, by fighting Makabu. But before this could happen, Illunga has to fight against number one challenger Mchunu.
Thabiso and team are in Mexico seeking visas from the US Embassy. They're training with exacting intensity, applying the finishing touches to long preparations to be strong for the big fight night. On a chilly early morning they arrive at the White Collar Gym, on Palmas Avenue, ready to really work and sweat.
First some skipping to limber up. Then sessions on the pads and the sticks with Trainer Sean Smith. Shadow sparring against lanky long armed welterweight Thulani Mbenge (16-1, 14KOs). Thabiso slips punches, deflects others off his arms, swiftly moves in to defty apply a mild dose of lightly lightning applied, mildly tempered punches and then quick silver moving away craftily and silkily. It's a masterclass during which other toiling boxers pause from their routines and cluster to the side of the ring to admiringly look and learn from. This also comes under the appreciative gaze of former WBC straw weight champion and now renown trainer Isaac “Tortas” Bustos, who's liberally and generously doling out chocolates to non-participants.
After the sparring which involves boxing clever, some stretching exercises follow, and then Thabiso lies down. The medicine ball is measuringly lumped and bumped into his taut abdomen and lead belly in an eye watering sequence. Lofty and muscular light heavyweight Andres Ramirez (10-0, 10 KOs) who has flown in from Colombia will be sparring with him in the next training session.
After more than two and a half hours of toil, affable and friendly Thabiso, who's in peak shape, strolls over for a chat. He says: “I'm feeling good. I'm ready for this and I've got to make sure I get this one. I'm fighting for a WBC title and it`s every boxer's dream.
“When I first fought him, I was young and cocky. He was so easy to hit, I went for the knockout and gassed. Now I'm more mature and I'm the smarter boxer. So, I'm going to do what I do best, which is to stalk him and outbox him. I'm convinced we've done everything to be able to win.”
Trainer Sean Smith said: “This fight has been in the making for almost six months, so we're putting the hammer down. We've been in and out of training camp for three to four months. I'm asking more of Thabiso and myself. We know what's on the line. Everything is more detailed and a little more intense. He has the opportunity to do great things.
“I believe in Thabiso. We`ve been together 11 years on this journey. It's an amazing story. It's a string of ups and downs and we're going to achieve a massive up! Hats off to Makabu. He's a slow starter. Then he relies on his gas tank and he forces the pace. Now we know, and it's a different mindset, as well as a different approach. Thabiso is smart and he can make a tough fight very easy. The boxer always wins.
“We will be the matador who beats the bull. We're going to slay the dragon on January 29th!”
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