27 January 2023 , 15:30
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Jake Paul and Tommy Fury will headline a massive pay-per-view card in Saudi Arabia next month, with cruiserweight title action to take place in the co-main event.
Ilunga Makabu will defend his WBC cruiserweight belt against former light-heavyweight and super-middleweight champion Badou Jack in Riyadh on February 26 as the last fight before Fury and Paul finally go head-to-head. The Congolese champion has held his belt since 2020, during which time Jack has put together a five-fight winning streak since moving up to cruiserweight.
The Swede had been defeated in questionable circumstances in November 2019 by Jean Pascal for the light-heavyweight belt just before the coronavirus pandemic, after which he decided to move up to weight. And he gets his opportunity at a third world title against Makabu on a major PPV card in the Middle East, where he has had his last three bouts.
Paul's Most Valuable Promotions stablemate Ashton Sylve will also feature on the event, which is co-promoted by the YouTuber's team as well as Frank Warren's Queensberry Promotions and Top Rank Boxing. Sylve is one of boxing's most exciting young prospects, and he takes another step up as he faces former title challenger Maxwell Awuku.
WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman took to social media to announce the Makabu vs Jack fight, saying: "So happy to announce that Badou Jack will be fighting for the cruiserweight title against Makabu. Great event, great fight, two great friends, it's going to be sensational."
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Badou Jack is on a winning run of five fights at cruiserweight (PA)Who do you think wins between Ilunga Makabu and Badou Jack next month? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!
Makabu hasn't fought since January 29 of last year, when he defeated Thabiso Mchunu in his second title defence. He has fought just three times in the same amount of time that it has taken Jack to fight six, meaning that activity would favour the older fighter who will likely open as an underdog based on recent performances.
Paul vs Fury will be available as a pay-per-view oon BT Sport Box Office in the UK on Sunday, February 26. No price has been released yet for the bout in the UK, but fans in the US have been outraged at being asked to pay $50 on ESPN+ PPV and via cable and satellite pay-per-view providers to watch it Stateside, likely very early in the morning.