Boxing: Junior Ilunga Makabu retains his WBC Africa belt in Kolwezi

Former Congolese world champion Junior Ilunga Makabu retained his WBC Africa cruiserweight belt by defeating Georgian Irakli Alanidze on points, by a unanimous decision from all three judges, on Friday, October 2, 2026, in Kolwezi, Lualaba Province, in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

A second successful defense in a row

According to Mbote, this marks the second consecutive successful defense of the continental title for the 38-year-old boxer. His professional record now stands at 29 victories, including 25 by knockout, with 4 losses in 33 fights, the Congolese media outlet reports. At the weigh-in, Makabu was recorded at 90 kilograms compared to 92 for his Georgian opponent, according to RTNC.

The fight served as a test: Alanidze was not a mere placeholder opponent, and the Congolese fighter had to secure the decision over the full distance rather than relying on the power that has defined the majority of his career.

The road back to a world title

Makabu held the WBC world cruiserweight crown before losing it to Badou Jack in February 2023, according to Mbote. RTNC notes that he held this world title from 2020 to 2023. Since then, the regional African belt has served as a launchpad: his stated goal remains to climb back to the top of the world rankings.

At 38, time is working against him. However, every successful defense keeps him in the WBC rankings and brings him closer to another world title opportunity, a scenario that boxing has seen before for veterans in his weight class.

A major fight far from Kinshasa

The organization of this event in Kolwezi is worth noting. Fights of this caliber are usually held in Kinshasa, when they are not relocated to Europe, South Africa, or the Gulf due to a lack of infrastructure and funding. Bringing a foreign opponent to a mining city in Lualaba means bringing high-level sports to where the public lives—and serves as a reminder that the DRC, home of the 1974 Ali-Foreman fight, holds a boxing history that few African nations can claim.

The question that follows each of these evenings remains: will the Congolese federation and public authorities be able to transform these one-off events into a sustainable pipeline capable of producing the generation that will succeed Makabu?