Isaac Chilemba’s battle before non-title fight
South Africa-based Malawian boxer Isaac ‘Golden Boy’ Chilemba is battling to be in weight before facing Fedor Chudinov of Russia on February 20 after the rescheduling of the fight.
Chilemba, a light heavyweight boxer, has taken a gamble to fight in a lower weight category after fighting in heavier category for over 10 years.
“I am fighting at super middleweight, which is 76.4kg, and right now I have dropped down to 80kg. I will make it there in the next two weeks and I will be fine,” said Chilemba who won the African Boxing Union super middleweight title after defeating Charles Adamu of Ghana in September 2008.
The 32-year-old boxer admitted he was taking a risk by fighting in a lower division.
“I know it is a risk to drop down a division lower at my age but, with experience and the diet I am on. I will be good and strong,” he said.
Chilemba has a record of 26 wins including 10 knockouts, seven defeats and two draws whereas Chudinov, 33, has 23 wins including 16 knockouts, two losses and a draw.
Golden Boy left Malawi as an amateur boxer at Blantyre Youth Centre in 2003 and settled in Johannesburg, where he was groomed into a professional fighter.
Meanwhile, local boxing expert Desire Kambewa has warned Chilemba to tread cautiously.
“We have so many boxers that have won titles at different weight categories. It all goes with how you condition the body before the fight. When dropping or increasing weight category you need specific diet and training routine. The process has to be gradual; otherwise, you end up messing your record,” he said.
