They will clash at the Stade De Lamitie in Libreville, the capital of Mabika´s native country Gabon, headlining a big show promoted by Yoka Com ´Event. Based in Luxembourg, this will only be the fifth time that Mabika fights in Gabon as a professional, and a huge crowd is expected to support the popular boxer on the night.
Mabika, 15-2-1 (9), last fought on June 17, when he captured the WBF International crown by stopping Germany´s former world title-challenger Lars Buchholz in round four. Since then he has diligently prepared for his opportunity to become world champion.
Zine Eddine Benmakhlouf, 22-4-1 (12), from Algeria, won the WBF world title in March of 2015 in Berlin, Germany, and made his first defense in March of this year when he halted the aforementioned Buchholz in six rounds on home-soil in Algiers.
The 39-year-old resident of Seine-Saint-Denis in France, his adopted home-country where he has had most of his professional bouts, is proving to be a true world champion by once again going abroad, this time to Africa, a whole new continent.
With thousands of loyal Mabika-fans rooting against him, almost eight thousand kilometers away from home, and a hungry and determined challenger in front of him, the defending WBF World Cruiserweight Champion must be prepared for a tough night in Libreville.
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