Debtors catch up with champ

WORLD Boxing Council (WBC) International cruiserweight champion Ilunga ‘‘Junior” Makabu is about to find out the hard way that breaching a binding contract and leaving behind a trail of debt have long-term consequences.

The 25-year-old Congolese, based in SA, fights Thabiso ‘‘The Rock” Mchunu at the Durban ICC Hall on Saturday in a WBC cruiserweight elimination fight he hopes will pay enough to impress his bank manager.

But his former representatives, Golden Gloves Promotions (GGP), and sponsors Nashua have other ideas and are staking a claim for Makabu’s purse.

GGP say Makabu has an outstanding debt of more than R300 000 incurred last year after he secretly slipped out of SA and arranged a fight in Congo behind their back.

The company, headed by CEO Rodney Berman, had signed contracts confirming the boxer to fight in Monaco in June last year and thousands were spent on flights, accommodation, logistics and preparing for the contest.

Incensed GGP officials have instructed attorney Stan Fanaroff to take legal action against Makabu to ensure he does not see a cent of whatever he is paid for his fight before honouring his debts.

Fanaroff confirmed to Sunday Times he has been instructed to pursue Makabu but declined to comment further, insisting the matter is sub judice.

‘‘Unfortunately I cannot say more on the matter at this stage,” he said.

Makabu’s mobile rang unanswered and he did not return messages on his voicemail.

While the boxer could not be reached for comment yesterday, he told Sunday Times at TIME TO PAY: WBC International cruiserweight champion Ilunga Makabu the time of the alleged infringement that he had received an offer he could not refuse, regardless of the consequences.

‘‘I have been offered R1-million to face Jamaican boxing legend Glen Johnson for the WBC International belt in Congo,” he said at the time. ‘That fight will make me rich and I cannot say no. I know nothing about a fight in Monaco.”

Golden Gloves fight publicist Brian Mitchell, who managed Makabu at the time, recalled that the boxer spun him a yarn.

‘‘He said he was going on holiday in Congo and we found out he was fighting without our knowledge,” Mitchell said.

Makabu’s current trainer Nick Durandt said he could not be drawn into the ensuing controversy as he was not representing the boxer at the time of the alleged offence.

‘‘I believe there are issues between Golden Gloves and Makabu, but unfortunately I cannot comment because the boxer had left me when he joined them. Remember that I just train Makabu now. I cannot be involved. Makabu has a manager in France.”

Makabu, who was born in Congo, has fought all his life in SA and has a record of 17 KOs, 18 wins and a loss.