If you look at Ilunga Makabu, you can observe an interesting theme associated with his career. He takes a stumble once in a while but bounces back strongly. But this time around, it’s a bit different. The slump is deeper, longer, and steep. However, the charm to box hasn’t faded away for him. The question is whether he can do it again. Or will Wagdy Attia take over from him and end the glorious career of the Congolese fighter

The fans will find it out when they witness the two boxers clash at the Gymnase Jumele Stade de Martyrs in Kinshasa. If you are fascinated with knockouts, then this is the fight for you, as it offers ample fireworks to keep you interested. In addition, a win for either of the fighters will give them a push in the rankings, making it a high-stakes fight. But before that happens, let’s have a look at how the two boxers stack up.

Ilunga Junior Makabu vs. Wagdy Attia: tale of tape

Makabu, 37, is your typical heavy-handed fighter, but there is calculation behind every punch that he throws. That’s the reason you saw him reign supreme at the cruiserweight for three years. However, it seems age is finally catching up to him, as he has lost the last two fights and now slumped to 29-4 with 25 KOs. But you should always be on alert, even if he is wounded or going through a rough patch in boxing. Why? You can have a look at his KO ratio of 86.21%, which reflects all he takes is a punch.

In addition, the former WBC champion has a set pattern of doing a number on his opponents. He imposes his physicality and tries to put forward pressure, using his long levers, giving him a reach of 74.0″ (188 cm). Makabu also stands tall at 6’0″ (183 cm), which allows him to target his foes’ bodies and break them down strategically. He then creates openings after wearing them down and finishes the fights with his powerful left hand. So, where does it leave Attia?

Attia, 29, is the younger of the two and, as expected, has fewer fights under his belt. You might not have heard his name before, as limelight has evaded him, until now. But the Egyptian fighter’s recent record speaks for itself. He is on a hot streak of 7 wins, out of which 6 came through knockouts. He is still molding himself into a better boxer, and as such, you can see a sole loss on his resume. Attia has a record of 11-1 with an eye-popping 10 knockouts. He has a penchant for knockouts, and his KO ratio of 90.91% sums up the same.

Interestingly, the Cairo native’s height and reach are not listed anywhere on the internet, and we are not sure whether he carries the height and size advantage into the fight or not. The same goes for his last fight’s weigh-in. Compared to him, the weigh-in scales stopped at 197.3 lbs for Makabu when he last fought. But will this obscurity give him an advantage, as Makabu barely has anything on him? How will it affect the fight dynamics?

Prediction: who wins it?

You can safely assume that this will be a war when Ilunga Makabu and Wagdy Attia face each other. They two both have a fan-friendly style, and the fans will have a thrilling fight. The fans could expect Makabu to push the pace in the fight initially, try to dictate the fight’s pace and distance, and land some body blows. But he would quickly retreat and then wait on counters. ‘Junior’s counters are effective, and those make the opponents pay when they overcommit.

It all culminates in a slow but strategic breakdown where he lands the fatal blow. In case you are wondering what happens if Attia catches him good with a powerful punch, you could expect Makabu to absorb it, given his durability.

But Makabu is coming off with a year-long layoff. You should also keep in mind that he is riding on a two-fight loss streak, both of which ended with a knockout. If his body is finally catching up to his long career’s wear and tear, then it could be serious trouble for him. Besides, his being on the declining slope won’t help him much. Given that Attia is almost in his prime and carries the advantage of youth and energy, it could turn out to be a troublesome fight for him.

His high confidence could also turn the fight tide in his favor. While you can pick Makabu for his experience and better resume, you should also brace yourself for an upset. It could be that a new generation of African cruiserweights might take over with this fight.

What do you make of this coming fight between Ilunga Makabu and Wagdy Attia? Who do you think will leave the arena with a win? Let us know in the comments below.