On the undercard of the Jake Paul-Tommy Fury card is the WBC Cruiserweight Championship between Ilunga Makabu and Badou Jack. At first glance, this is a contest between two boxers past their prime. Still, the boxing odds suggest Makabu is the less “washed out” and will beat Jack. But it’s sketchy at best, and the only logical bet here lies in the total.
Let’s check the latest Boxing news, stats, and Boxing lines for Makabu vs Jack. We’ve got plenty of Boxing picks for you to consider.
Remember when we said that if Badou Jack beats Ilunga Makabu, his first voluntary defence will be against Jake Paul 😳
Voila! https://t.co/mOVURSZ5si
— Fight Disciples (@FightDisciples) February 15, 2023
Makabu Finds Ways To Get It Done
Ilunga Makabu has been the WBC champion for over three years. And yet, most only know him from that suggested fight with Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. It ultimately fell through, but Makabu got his name on the map with that one. He instead rematched an old rival in Thabiso Mchunu and narrowly defeated him.
Controversial or not, Makabu cashed bets online and is now unbeaten since getting knocked out by Tony Bellew in 2016. Still, this champ leaves plenty to be desired. He’s not the most active boxer and his best days appear to be behind him. But when all is said and done, he knows how to score points or prevent his opponent from doing so.
Boxing Jack is actually a step down for Makabu. The Congolese champ will not be much bigger but will be heftier than his opponent. He will be able to use his bulky frame to push Jack around and absorb any offense he throws. It’s why he’s favored.
Jack Has Home Advantage?
It’s been a minute since Badou Jack fought then-WBC World Light Heavyweight champion Adonis Stevenson to a draw. Since falling short of winning the title, Jack lost consecutive title shots in the division and seemingly faded into obscurity.
But the Gambian-Swedish boxer is now on a five-fight winning streak. He recently edged Richard “Popeye” Rivera in what many are protesting as a bogus decision. Maybe it’s the fact that Jack, a devout Muslim, got the approval of the Arabian audience in Jeddah. And now he’s back in Saudi Arabia as an underdog.
There may be some reason to bet Jack on the online sportsbook. He’s still wily enough as a veteran to keep the fight close with Makabu. And he’ll get the crowd cheering for almost everything he does, which will sway the judges. Jack already won the benefit of the doubt last summer. He may just do it again.
Makabu vs Jack Head-to-Head
Size-wise, these boxers are nearly identical. Makabu has an inch advantage in reach, while Jack is an inch taller. The challenger is four years older. Makabu boxes in southpaw while Jack boxes in orthodox.
Makabu vs Jack Fight Information
- Records: Makabu (29-2-0, 25 KOs) vs Jack (27-3-3, 16 KOs)
- Location: Diriyah Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Day/Time: Sunday, Feb. 26, 4:00 p.m. ET
- Makabu vs Jack Live Stream: Box Live
Makabu vs Jack Betting Lines
Makabu vs Jack Picks and Prediction
To say the least about this bout, it’s sketchy. Both Makabu and Jack are veterans that fight to outpoint the other. The edge goes to Jack for fighting on “home soil.” But Makabu has also typically gotten the judges’ favor. So instead, bet on this one to go past the 11th round and into a decision.
The Makabu is listed at -180 in our Vegas Boxing lines. This means that if you wager $100 on Makabu, you have a chance to win $56. The Jack is +150, offering a chance to win $150 on a $100 wager.
The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives Makabu a 64.29% chance to win, with Jack at 40.00%.
