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World Boxing Federation (WBF)
World Cruiserweight Champion
Zine Eddine Benmakhlouf will
make his first title-defense on
March 31 when he takes on former
Argentinean champion Alejandro
Emilio “Mojarra” Valori on
home-soil in Algiers, Algeria.
This will be only the second
time that Benmakhlouf (38)
fights in his native country,
after starting his professional
career in France in 2004. Most
of his fights have since taken
place in France, but he has also
fought twice in Germany, where
he won the WBF world title last
March, and once in Russia.
His current record stands at
21-4-1 (11), and three of his
four losses came at heavyweight,
a weight class he doesn’t belong
in, while the fourth defeat came
on points to living legend Roy
Jones Jr. In Valori he will be
facing a challenger five years
younger, but with equal
experience.
The man from Buenos Aires turned
pro in 2008, and has since
compiled a 20-9 (15) ledger
after fighting some of the
Cruiserweight divisions high
profile names. In 2014 he lost
to former world champion Nathan
Cleverly in England, but, after
two other setbacks in 2015, he
has won his last three fights in
Argentina.
While the defending world
champion can look forward to a
loud and enthusiastic reception
from the Algerian boxing
fanatics, Valori should not
expect many cheers when he
enters the ring on March 31. But
this is not the first time he
fights in enemy territory, and
he is coming to silence the
local fans.
The Zine Eddine Benmakhlouf vs.
Alejandro Emilio Valori WBF
World Cruiserweight title fight
will be promoted by BMA
Production and Mohamed
Kerrouche.
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