Cuban cruiserweight Mike Perez (24 -3 -1, 15 KO’s) will finally face Congolese puncher Ilunga Makabu (24-2-0, 23 KOs) for the silver cruiserweight title of the World Boxing Council.

The fight will take place in the city of Kinshasha, Republic of the Congo, on Saturday, May 4 and whoever wins will stake a claim for a challenge against WBC cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, who moves up to heavyweight next month but has yet to vacate the title.

Perez, ranked number 10 on the WBC lists, has fought big battles in the cruiserweight division, after being a heavyweight boxer.

Makabu, who`s classified 4 by the WBC, has notched up an impressive list of victories, leading him to win the WBC International title, after having contested the WBC world crown against Briton Tony Bellew.

IN OTHER NEWS: VANCOUVER, B.C.-- Big time boxing will finally hit one of Canada’s big time markets on May 11, as Lee Baxter Promotions presents a night of world class professional boxing at the Vogue Theatre in downtown Vancouver.

There hasn’t been a professional boxing event in Vancouver since 2012, and in total, there have been only four since the year 2000.



In the main event, B.C.’s own heavyweight threat Adam Braidwood will be in action as he continues his journey towards the Canadian heavyweight title. Braidwood is one of the division’s most dangerous punchers, and his only two losses have come at the hands of UFC veteran Lee Mein (one he avenged) and to Canadian Olympian Simon Kean.



The former CFL standout-turned heavyweight slugger was born in Delta, BC, and now resides in Victoria, BC, and is sure to have plenty of fans eager to see him fight in his home province for just the second time.



“We’re extremely proud to be the ones to bring boxing back to Vancouver. It’s been a mystery why this market hasn’t been served at all, but those days are over,” said Lee Baxter. “With Adam Braidwood in the main event, you know it’s going to be a night you’ll remember, because he doesn’t know how to fight any other way.”

In the co-feature, fellow heavyweight standout Kristian Prenga will face an opponent to be named later. Prenga is riding a five-fight knockout streak, and all of his professional wins have come by KO. Aside from the action in the ring, he is known for his rabid fanbase and following from the Albanian-Canadian community, who have made for some of the more incredible live boxing atmospheres in recent memory on Canadian turf.