VEGGIE MIGHT
BOXING EXCLUSIVE He’s a 6ft 6in, 18 stone bruiser from the Congo who doesn’t eat meat, lives in Airdrie and is set to take boxing by storm
BILLY NELSON is convinced the next heavyweight superstar is a 6ft 6in, 18-stone vegetarian from the Democratic Republic of the Congo who is living the quiet life in a little village at the back of Airdrie.
Now there’s a sentence you won’t see anywhere else this, or any other, week.
Even Nelson chuckles when he says it but it doesn’t mean he doesn’t have complete confidence in his belief a future world heavyweight champion is kicking around in North Lanarkshire.
Meet Martin Ilunga. The big African fighter made the move from Kananga to South Africa before he set up base in England and then headed north to sign up to the Nelson stable.
Ilunga is convinced the Scottish trainer is the man to get him to the top level and the renowned coach didn’t take long to agree.
Nelson said: “He’s the most natural fighter I’ve ever seen. He’s an enormous talent. He still has a lot to learn but he’s going to be a world champion.
“We are going to take our time but I would be comfortable chucking him in the ring with any domestic heavyweight in the UK right now – apart from Anthony Joshua.”
It’s some recommendation. But, hang on, nearly 18 stone of solid meat and yet Ilunga’s a veggie?
Ilunga said: “Yeah, I don’t eat meat. Billy helped me find an African shop, called Solly’s, in the west end of Glasgow. They provide me with my food, lots of fish and vegetables. But no meat.”
Presumably it takes a piece and blue whale to feed the big man but whatever’s going on the plate it’s working.
Ilunga – who has won his first seven fights as a pro – is loving life in Scotland.
He said: “I have really settled here. I enjoy it in Greengairs. It is very quiet and I have a nice flat (provided by his Watford-based sponsors Engage) and I feel at home. The weather is a bit different but I don’t mind it.”
Ilunga is not in town for the Scottish summer. He’s here to work and relishing the chance to be put through his paces by a trainer who led Ricky Burns and Scott Harrison to world titles and countless others to belts around the globe.
The 24-year-old heavyweight hopeful said: “The training is great and I’m improving all of the time. I want to be the world champion. That is my dream and hopefully I can do it in the next couple of years.”
It’s not just titles though, there are a few personal family scores he’d love to settle.
Martin’s brother Ilunga Makabu lost in his WBC cruiserweight world title bid to Tony Bellew in a thriller at Goodison Park in May 2015.
Makabu had the English star down in the first round but the Scouser climbed off the canvas to complete a stunning third-round stoppage.
Martin – who will get a run-out in
He’s the most natural fighter I’ve seen ... he’s going to be a world champion BILLY NELSON
Manchester on Saturday against a yet-to-be-determined opponent – said: “I want to avenge that defeat for my brother. It was not used as an excuse at the time but he suffered a knee injury in that fight and eventually it required surgery. He should not have lost but I would love the chance to fight Bellow.”
Nelson reckons it would be a cracking contest. He said: “Martin would beat Bellew. I’d fancy him against any of the heavyweights around.”
It’s a great time to be bursting on to the scene in boxing’s glamour division. Joshua’s sensational win against Vladimir Klitchsko shook the world.
The corking contest between Bellew and David Haye was big box office and the Americans have woken up again after the big men seemed to be in hibernation for a decade with Deontay Wilder a huge hit and Tyson Fury promising to make a comeback.
The domestic scene is bustling as well with Hughie Fury, Dereck Chisora, Dillian Whyte and Scotland’s Gary Cornish in the mix.
Heavyweight boxing is trendy again and Nelson’s man is determined to be in fashion, with several promoters queueing up to secure his services.
The trainer said: “He’s got the size, physique and speed. He’s like lightning. It’s a powerful combination.
“He’s been devastating in sparring. Guys from down south have requested to spar with him but they run a mile when they hear what he’s like.”
By the sounds of things it won’t be just the sparring partners who will be running scared of Ilunga.