On December 19, 2020, the 33-year-old WBC cruiserweight world champion, Ilunga Makabu (27-2, 24 KOs), faced Olanrewaju Durodola, in a title defense fight.
Makabu came in to the fight on a 8-fight win streak with a 82% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 10 months and 19 days.
Ilunga Makabu stopped Olanrewaju Durodola via TKO in the 7th round of the 12-round world-title fight, and successfully defended his WBC cruiserweight title. Makabu improves his record to 28-2 (25 KOs)
On January 31, 2020, 32-year-old Ilunga Makabu (26-2, 24 KOs) and 30-year-old Michał Cieślak (19-0, 13 KOs) fought for the vacant WBC cruiserweight title.
Makabu came in to the fight on a 7-fight win streak with a 85% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 5 months and 7 days. Cieślak was on a 19-fight win streak with a 68% KO rate, and fighting after a layoff of 8 months.
Ilunga Makabu defeated Michał Cieślak via unanimous decision . Makabu improves his record to 27-2, while Cieślak adds a loss to his record at 19-1.
On June 16, 2019, a 31-year-old Ilunga Makabu (24-2, 23 KOs) and a 33-year-old Russian boxer Dmitry Kudryashov (23-2, 23 KOs) met in the ring in a cruiserweight bout.
Makabu came in to the fight on a 5-fight win streak with a 88% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 6 months and 8 days. Kudryashov was on a 2-fight win streak with a 92% KO rate, and fighting after a layoff of 9 months and 1 day.
Ilunga Makabu stopped Dmitry Kudryashov via TKO in the 5th round. Makabu improves his record to 25-2 (24 KOs), while Kudryashov adds a loss to his record at 23-3.
On January 29, 2022, Ilunga Makabu and Thabiso Mchunu met again in a rematch.
Makabu came in to the fight on a 9-fight win streak with a 83% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 1 year, 1 month, and 10 days. Mchunu was on a 4-fight win streak with a 46% KO rate, and fighting after a layoff of 10 months and 2 days.
Ilunga Makabu defeated Thabiso Mchunu via split decision in the rematch and successfully defended his WBC cruiserweight title. Makabu improves his record to 29-2, while Mchunu adds a loss to his record at 23-6.
On August 31, 2013, a 25-year-old Ilunga Makabu (14-1, 13 KOs) and Eric Fields met in the ring in a cruiserweight bout.
Makabu came in to the fight on a 14-fight win streak with a 86% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 1 month and 18 days.
Ilunga Makabu stopped Eric Fields via KO in the 5th round. Makabu improves his record to 15-1 (14 KOs)
On June 28, 2014, a 26-year-old Ilunga Makabu (16-1, 15 KOs) and a 45-year-old Jamaican boxer Glen Johnson (54-18-2, 37 KOs) met in the ring in a cruiserweight bout.
Makabu came in to the fight on a 16-fight win streak with a 88% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 4 months and 27 days. Johnson was on a 3-fight win streak with a 50% KO rate, and fighting after a layoff of 4 months and 7 days.
Ilunga Makabu stopped Glen Johnson via TKO in the 9th round. Makabu improves his record to 17-1 (16 KOs), while Johnson adds a loss to his record at 54-19-2.
On May 16, 2015, a 27-year-old Ilunga Makabu (18-1, 17 KOs) and a 27-year-old South African boxer Thabiso Mchunu (16-1, 10 KOs) met in the ring.
Makabu came in to the fight on a 18-fight win streak with a 89% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 5 months and 11 days. Mchunu was on a 6-fight win streak with a 58% KO rate, and fighting after a layoff of 7 months and 26 days.
Ilunga Makabu stopped Thabiso Mchunu via KO in the 11th round. Makabu improves his record to 19-1 (18 KOs), while Mchunu adds a loss to his record at 16-2.
On July 13, 2013, a 25-year-old Ilunga Makabu (13-1, 13 KOs) and a 28-year-old Ukrainian boxer Dmytro Kucher (21-0, 15 KOs) met in the ring in a cruiserweight bout.
Makabu came in to the fight on a 13-fight win streak with a 92% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 3 months and 13 days. Kucher was on a 21-fight win streak with a 71% KO rate, and fighting after a layoff of 3 months and 22 days.
Ilunga Makabu defeated Dmytro Kucher via majority decision in the 12-round cruiserweight fight. Makabu improves his record to 14-1, while Kucher adds a loss to his record at 21-1.
On August 24, 2019, a 31-year-old Ilunga Makabu (25-2, 24 KOs) and a 31-year-old Russian boxer Alexei Papin (11-0, 10 KOs) met in the ring in a cruiserweight bout.
Makabu came in to the fight on a 6-fight win streak with a 88% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 2 months and 8 days. Papin was on a 11-fight win streak with a 90% KO rate, and fighting after a layoff of 2 months and 8 days.
Ilunga Makabu defeated Alexei Papin via majority decision in the 12-round cruiserweight fight. Makabu improves his record to 26-2, while Papin adds a loss to his record at 11-1.
On September 22, 2018, a 30-year-old Ilunga Makabu (21-2, 20 KOs) and Taylor Mabika met in the ring in a cruiserweight bout.
Makabu came in to the fight on a 2-fight win streak with a 87% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 1 year and 28 days.
Ilunga Makabu stopped Taylor Mabika via RTD in the 4th round. Makabu improves his record to 22-2 (21 KOs)