Boxer Chilemba rejoices World title with ‘countrymen’
Newly crowned World Boxing Organization (WBO) light heavyweight African Champion Isaac ‘Golden Boy’ Miguel Chilemba says he will return to his base South Africa an energized and cheery being after celebrating his recently won belt with countrymen.
Chilemba arrived in his birth country Malawi from South Africa through Chileka Airort Tuesday evening to a glittering welcome to briefly showcase and celebrate his WBO belt with relatives, friends and fans, fulfilling a pledge he made immediately after winning it.
Speaking exclusively to Nyasa Times at Blue Bird Motel where he had been offered free accommodation for his entire stay in the country, the Golden Boy he would return to South Africa a happy and invigorated man.
“I have really been impressed with everything from the day of my arrival, the warm welcome I received from Malawians besides my family, the words of encouragement and many others. Really I am going back to South Africa an extremely delighted person,” he said in an interview.
Chilemba, who is the first Malawian to win the WBO Africa belt, is scheduled to return to South Africa this Sunday.
“I dedicate this belt [WBO] to all Malawians, my family, fans, relatives, and all those who have been supporting me… And I urge them to continue encouraging and supporting me,” said the 22-year-old Chilemba.
The WBO light heavyweight African champion is expected to leave for South Africa together with another Malawian boxer Osward Kayuni who has been invited by Chilemba’s manager to undergo trials next month.
The pugilists, who trekked to South Africa five years ago, underlined his growing reputation last week after beating Ugandan David Kitooke at Graceland Casino in Secunda, Mpumalanga, in South Africa to be crowned the WBO Africa light heavyweight champion on unanimous decision.
All the three judges presiding over the bout which was beamed live on Supersport 5 scored in favour of the Malawian.
The Kenya-based Kitooke, fondly known as Basaja, also lost a non-title bout to the baby-faced Chilemba, weighing 79.20kgs, last year. Kitooke emerged as Chilemba’s opponent after another Ugandan Douglas Otieno chickened out.
Chilemba already has on his belly another belt, the African Boxing Union (ABU) super middle weight, which he won last September after defeating Ghanaian Charles Adamu on points.
The WBO title win is likely to push Chilemba further on WBO rankings (in his category). Before the fight, he was rated 72 out of 875 boxers in the world.
The rankings consider the boxers’ achievements from different boxing organisations like the WBO, International Boxing Organisation (IBO), World Boxing Council (WBC) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) among others.
On the WBC rankings, Chilemba is rated 37 while the IBO ranks the Malawi boxer on position 62.
Chilemba is the second African to be in WBC’s top 40 following Cameroonian Sakio Bika, who stands on position seven.
