Mchunu, Muller’s careers at crossroads

Loser will have to seriously re-look at their boxing future

The careers of boxers Thabiso Mchunu and Johnny Muller will be at stake when they fight each other for the vacant ABU cruiserweight belt at Emperors Palace on June 10.

Their careers had earlier taken off like a rocket but soon came down like a meteorite.

Their last bouts were in December. Mchunu was stopped in the ninth round by Oleksandr Usyk for the WBO belt in the US.

Ukrainian Usyk boasts a third round stoppage win over Muller.

Mchunu, 29, from Pietermaritzburg, KwaZuluNatal, has 17 wins and three losses, all by stoppages.

Mchunu gained prominence by winning the SA cruiserweight belt in his fourth fight in 2008. He added the ABU strap and later captured the NABF title before being stopped in the 10th round by Ilunga Makabu for the No 1 spot in the WBC ratings.

Mchunu then bounced back with a second round stoppage win against Boniface Kabore before being stopped by Usyk.

On the other hand, Muller – who had suffered two consecutive losses to Kevin Lerena and Mickie Nielsen after being stopped by Usyk – bombed Herman Potgieter in two rounds in Kempton Park.

Muller, 27, won the SA light heavyweight belt in his 10th fight in 2010. He also collected some regional titles before being stopped by Usyk.

Muller, from Roodepoort, West Rand, has 20 wins against seven losses (four by KO) and two draws.

The loser between the two fighters will definitely have to reconsider his career.