Chilemba’s fight described as a mismatch for Kovalev: Malawi ‘Golden Boy’ takes on Russian

Malawian boxer Isaac Chilemba takes on Russian Sergey ‘Krusher’ Kovalev on Monday in Ekaterinburg, Russia for which boxing pundits describe as a mismatch for Kovalev, who is IBF/WBA/WBO light heavyweight champion.

But Chilemba (24-3-2, 10 KOs) is unfazed and told the media that he is going to give his opponent, Kovalev (29-0-1, 26 KOs), hell and promises not leave it in the judges’ hands.

“Everyone expects it to be an easy fight for him,” Chilemba told USA Today. “I will put it all out there to make sure I get the decision.

“He has never fought me or someone like me though. This will be a very different fight for Kovalev.”

Writing in Boxing News, boxing expert Allan Fox said  at 29, Chilemba is a little younger than the 33-year-old Kovalev but “Chilemba’s youth advantage isn’t enough for him to gain any real advantage in this fight because he likely won’t be around by the later rounds anyway due to the shots he’s going to be getting hit with by Kovalev.”

“Chilemba likes to fight in a defensive posture for much of his fights. This is Kovalev’s last fight before he defends his titles against former 168lb champion Andre Ward on November 19.

“That match will at least give Kovalev a good opponent for a change, but we’re still only talking about one fight. Chilemba has good technical skills. He likes to counter punch frequently.

“However, he’s hittable when his opponents get on the inside against him, because he doesn’t have an inside game to speak of. Chilemba also doesn’t have a great jab, and he can be beaten by guys that stand on the outside and jab him all night.

“If Kovalev wants, he can focus on jabbing Chilemba for 12 rounds and make his job easier. However, that’s not the way Kovalev fights. He wants to entertain his fans, and he’s not going to be contest with just standing at a safe distance jabbing Chilemba’s head off all night,” Fox said.

Chilemba’s last two defeats were against Eleider Alvarez and Tony Bellew and that’s why he is touted as an underdog.

“I was disappointed after my fight with Alvarez,” Chilemba told USA Today. “When I got the call that this fight was offered you can’t believe the joy that came over me. I knew I would get another chance to fight a tough opponent. I have been praying hard and I thank God that I finally got the opportunity.

“I believe this is where I am going to show the world who I am and what I am made of. Kovalev is not invincible, he is not God, he is a man just like me. I will be the man to crush the Krusher.

“I believe I am the antidote to Kovalev. I am walking into this fight with only a few people believing in me. I am going to show the world. We are going to do what Kovalev, and no one else in the world, has ever seen.”

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