Boxer Chilemba ready for British opponet

Revered Malawian boxer Isaac ‘Golden Boy’ Chilemba cannot wait to face his British opponent Anthony Bellew in an official final eliminator for the WBC light heavyweight world title in Betfair’s ‘No Retreat, No Surrender’ at the Echo Arena on March 30.

Chilemba, who left Johannesburg on Sunday for the United States to intensify his preparations for the bout, said he is set for the showdown.

The winner of the bout will face either current light heavyweight champion Chad Dawson or Jean Pascal.

“I just cannot wait and I am looking forward to the bout with a degree of confidence,” said Chilemba who was in the company of his trainer Andson Kazembe.

He also said despite Bellew’s recent remarkable run, he is not moved by his exploits.

“The only advantage he has is that he will be fighting in his home town; otherwise, I feel I can handle him. He has had a couple of successive knockout victories recently and I guess that is why pundits are tipping the scales in his favour, but he will be surprised,” said Chilemba.

He also said the bout has the potential to open more doors for him to scale greater heights.

Kazembe said, having watched Bellew’s fights on DVD, his view is that he does not possess anything special.

“He is ordinary and we will definitely handle him. Ike [Isaac] is set for this bout. Perhaps, the only advantage that Bellew will is home ground advantage,” he said.

Chilemba is ranked number five on the WBC chart.