Makubu will stay focused

The cruiser-weight sensation might not be fighting for a title when he steps into the ring next weekend to take on Ruben Mino in Monte Carlo, but there are bigger prizes on offer should he win convincingly.

With a shot at the World Boxing Association world title looming, Makabu needs to keep winning, with extra points for style, and in his Argentinian opponent, he meets a fighter who has yet to lose in 20 outings, but the simple reality is that Makabu should ice him.

Mino has yet to meet anyone near the calibre of Makabu and while he can boast 20 knock-out wins, the reality is that he appears to be something of a bully.

But that hasn’t deterred Makabu from staying focused and his trainer Harold Volbrecht assured that his charge has trained just as hard for this outing.

“Junior’s taking this coming fight very seriously. He trained right through December and he’s something like three kilograms under the limit already. He knows there are a lot things waiting for him,” Volbrecht said.

He is adamant that Makabu, who boasts a record of 15-1 with 14 stoppages, has the quality to take on the top names in the division as he continues his journey to a fully- fledged world title to go with the IBF youth and WBC silver belts he has already picked up.

“He’s ready to fight anybody in the world. The only problem is that there aren’t too many guys that want to fight him. I don’t know if he’s going to run out of opponents but eventually he’s going to have to fight the top guys and he’s ready for them,” Volbrecht said.

The team leaves tomorrow, along with Nkosinathi Joyi and his connections, for the principality and Makabu, who has endeared himself to the French-speaking population, has an opportunity to claim another victim. Bon Voyage.