Chilemba ponders retirement
Celebrated South Africa-based Malawian boxer Isaac ‘Golden Boy’ Chilemba says he could retire after his upcoming WBC silver super middleweight bout against Russian Pavel Silyagin.
The former super middleweight world champion said in an interview that his body is telling him that it’s time to take a bow.
The 34-year-old is considered by many as the best boxer to have emerged from the domestic scene.
He said: “This is my 20th year in the trenches of boxing and my body is tired.
“After the upcoming fight, I will have a few days to reflect on the future and then make a decision.
“If you don’t hear from me then I would have called it a day, but in the event that I decide to hang on a bit, then it will just be for a year and that will be it.
“But for now, I am tired of fighting though I love boxing.”
Chilemba has already started preparing for the future by opening a firm that trains upcoming boxers. He is also pursuing studies.
On November 12, he is scheduled to face Silyagin in Moscow.
Chilemba, however, expressed frustration over the continued shifting of the bout, saying: “It is very frustrating. It has been postponed four times and when you convert the energy and time channelled towards preparations, it is disturbing.
“Actually, I am losing hope if it’s going to happen this year at all. I hope this time it will just go as planned.”
Nevertheless, the Malawian celebreated boxer says he is more than ready for the bout.
He has won 26, including 10 knockouts, lost seven (one knockout) and drawn three.
Chilemba last fought in February this year against WBA super middleweight champion Fedor Chudinov, the bout ended in a draw.
On the other hand, Silyagin, 28, has won all his eight bouts, four of them through knockouts.
Malawi Professional Boxing Control Board president Lonzoe ‘Defector’ Zimba said in an interview that Chilemba should still pursue his dream to fight in Malawi before retiring.
He said: “I know there were some frustrations along the way, but he shouldn’t give up on his dream.
“He has never fought on home soil as a professional and Malawians are eager to watch him live.”
