By Jake Donovan

Cruiserweight contender Ilunga "Junior" Makabu has secured a new opponent for his appearance on the loaded February 1 show in Monte Carlo. The knockout artist from South Africa will face another big puncher in unbeaten Ruben Angel Mino (20-0, 20KO) from Argentina.

The card, topped by Gennady Golovkin's middleweight title defense versus Osumanu Adama, endured rough waters in the past week, with two separate opponents pulling out of the show in consecutive days. Nathan Cleverly was scheduled to face Makabu, but withdrew due to an undisclosed injury, according to his promoter Frank Warren.

Middleweight contender Martin Murray was pulled from the show just one day later, walking from his scheduled interim title fight versus Jarrod Fletcher. An opponent was quickly found for Fletcher, who will now face Max Bursak. However, it proved a far more daunting task to secure a late replacement for Makabu.
 
“I had agents all over the world working on this, but it seems almost no-one is willing to fight a banger like Makabu,” insists promoter Rodney Berman. “His reputation makes it increasingly difficult to match him.”

Makabu (16-1, 15KO) has won 16 straight following a 1st roud knockout loss in his pro debut. The Congo native is coming off of a 1st round knockout of American journeyman Eric Fields last August. His lone fight to last the distance came one month prior, scoring a 12-round majority over unbeaten Dmytro Kucher.

Mino, 39 years old but a late bloomer having turned pro in 2011, fought 11 times in 2013 including a pair of knockout two weeks apart in December. The Argentine brawler has never been extended beyond the fourth round in any given bout. His showdown with Makabu marks his first ring appearance outside of South America.

With all of the pieces now in place for the show, Makabu's handlers can breathe easy and begin to focus on the future - pending a victory in Monte Carlo, of course.

“Junior needs to get through next month’s 10-rounder after which he’ll fight for the WBA’s Interim (cruiserweight) belt,” said Berman.

Also appearing on the show: former strawweight titlist Nkosinathi Joyi (24-2, 17KO) faces Rey Loreto (17-13, 9KO) at junior flyweight, and undefeated welterweight Roman Beleav (12-0, 10KO) meets Dean Byrne (17-2-1, 6KO), with bouts scheduled for 12 rounds.
 
Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of Boxingscene.com, as well as a member of the Transnational Boxing Ratings Board and the Boxing Writers Association of America. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox