APM declares Chilemba national hero
President Peter Mutharika has declared South Africa-based boxing icon Isaac ‘Golden Boy’ Chilemba a national hero.
In a press statement issued on Tuesday signed by presidential press secretary Mgeme Kalilani, the President said he is impressed with Chilemba’s career
He added that the 29-year-old former IBO super-middleweight and WBC international light-heavyweight championm, has successfully represented the country on the international sporting scene.
“His Excellency wishes to salute Mr. Isaac Chilemba for putting up a good fight in boxing.
“In spite of the losses in some of his bouts, the President recognises Mr. Chilemba as our national hero and a patriotic son of Malawi,” reads part of the statement.
The President has since wished the ‘Golden Boy’ well as he looks forward to his surgery on his injured right shoulder.
Reacting to the President’s statement in an interview from South Africa yesterday, Chilemba said he felt humbled by the gesture.
“I appreciate the President’s gesture, especially coming after the injury setback that forced me to retire.
“I am supposed to see a specialist today [yesterday] for preliminary assessment before my trip back to the US for the surgery,” he said.
Chilemba, who retired after the eighth of his 10-round North America Boxing Federation (Nabf) light heavyweight title bout against Ukrainian Oleksandr Gvozdyk in Las Vegas on Sunday, is set to undergo surgery next month. n
