20-0 South American Cruiserweight Champion Ruben Angel Miño To Fight Makabu in Monte Carlo
By Robert Brizel, Head RCM Boxing Correspondent
Known as ‘El Hombre De Piedra’, 20-0 South American Cruiserweight champion Ruben Angel Miño of Buenos Aires, Argentina, in a move reminiscent of Carlo Monzon versus Giovanni Nino Benevenuti in Monte Carlo in 1971, has replaced the injured Nathan Cleverly and will fight world ranked Congo southpaw Illunga Makabu of Johannesburg, South Africa, in a ten rounder in the preliminary to the Gennady Golovkin versus Osumanu Adama main event World Boxing Association world middleweight title bout in Monte Carlo, Monaco, on February 1, 2014.
Miño has fought 18 of his 20 professional bouts in Argentina, and two in Paraguay, but, similar the late Carlos Monzon, is heading to Monte Carlo having never been seen off the South American continent by fight fans before. Mino might have a chance despite the odds. WBC Silver Cruiserweight title holder Makabu was knocked out in the first round of his professional debut by South African cruiserweight Khayeni Hlungwane.
Like Miño , Monzon was an Argentine fighter unknown to the rest of the boxing world when he headed to Europe won the world middleweight title from Nino Benevenuti in Rome, Italy at Palazzetto Dello Sport in November 1970. Monzon made the first defense of his world title against Benevenuti at Stade Louis II in Monte Carlo, Monaco, in May 1971. Though Monte Carlo is considered a neutral location as a boxing venue, Monzon managed to get an Argentine referee for his Monte Carlo bout, which gave him a keen advantage.
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