Bellew knocks out Makabu to win world title
Tony Bellew (27-2-1, 17 KOs) defeated Ilunga Makabu (19-2, 18 KOs) by a third round KO to claim the vacant WBC cruiserweight title on Sunday night at Goodison Park in Liverpool.
Bellew played the role of a boxer who fought for the world title at the home of his beloved Everton FC in the latest Rocky film. But the British cruiserweight has now done it in real life when he got off the canvas in the first round to knock out Makabu and claim his first world title, having lost two attempts at the world light heavyweight title against Adonis Stevenson and Nathan Cleverly.
Bellew worked patiently behind the jab at the beginning of the opener, but soon started backing Makabu to the ropes with a series of hard shots towards the end of the round.
However, Congo-born Makabu, who resides in South Africa, soaked up the blows before coming off the ropes and landing a solid left hand which sent Bellew tumbling to the canvas.
Bellew's nose was bloodied but he recovered well and he backed Makabu up again though with more caution in the second.
But in the third Bellew suddenly opened up with a barrage of left and right hooks.
The local fighter hunted his opponent down and finished the job as a short left hook to the jaw left Makabu out before he hit the canvas and referee Victor Loughlin stepped in to wave it off at 1:20 of the round.
Bellew won the belt vacated by Russia's Grigory Drozd, who twice pulled out of mandatory fights with Makabu due to injuries.