Francis Ajuonuma, Lagos
Nigeria and West African Boxing Union (WABU) light heavyweight champion, Jude Ilo has set his eyes on claiming the World Boxing Council (WBC) world title currently being held by Mexican pound-for-pound hitter and counterpuncher specialist, Saul “Canelo Alvarez.
Ilo made his intention known after a training session in Lagos, supervised by his coach Shehu Yusuf, as he prepares for his up coming challenge contest against fellow country man, Jeku Williams fixed to hold at the National Stadium in Lagos on July 1st, 2021.
According to the soft speaking pugilist who has recorded nine technical knockouts in 10 victories of his 11 professional bouts, winning the world title will see him fullfil his age long dream of having a world boxing belt round his waist.
And to achieve that, Ilo noted that he must secure victories in two elimination bouts scheduled to hold later in the year against yet to be named opponents.
Ilo, also a pound-for-pound boxer, sees the July 112 rounds challenge contest against Jeku Williams as a tone up fight for the impending elimination fights for a crack at Canelo’s world title.
“This training is for my upcoming fight which is going to take place on 1st of July, 2021 at the National Stadium in Lagos. It’s a non-title fight which I’m suppose to win to upgrade my category in the light heavyweight and improve my chances to meet to the world title fight.
“My opponent come July 1, is fellow Nigerian, his name is Jeku Williams and I will be victorious. I’m not underating him as I’ve been training hard for the fight and with the little information have about him, I don’t see him as a stumbling block to me moving closer to a shot at the world title,” Ilo said.
“For the world title fight, presently, the world light heavyweight champion for now is a Mexican, Saul Alvarez. So to go for the title is the one I’m going to meet once I qualified. Because after the July 1 challenge context I’m suppose to win two elimination bouts to stand a chance at having a shot at the world title held by Canelo.
“On my chances of winning the world title, all I need is to meet the titleholder which I believe once I meet him I’ll take the belt away from him and bring it to Nigeria and that will be a dream come true. I know my preparation and having watched some of his fights, I know I can beat him when we eventually meet. He’s a great fighter and very tough but I know I’m equally good to outpoint him,” Ilo boasted.
Coach Yusuf, who also spoke on the July 1 fight, was optimistic that his ward will come out top against his opponent.
I’ve been training Ilo for quite a longtime now and I know the stuff he’s made off. And with the little I’ve seen of Jeku I don’t think he can survive the rounds,” he said.
Canelo has won multiple world championships in four weight classes from light middleweight to light heavyweight, including unified titles in three of those weight classes.
Currently, the Mexican is a unified super middleweight world champion, having held the WBA (Super), WBC, and Ring magazine titles since 2020, and the WBO title since May 2021.
