Chilemba secures title fight
Malawian boxing icon Isaac ‘Golden Boy’ Chilemba’s upcoming bout against Ukranian Oleksandr ‘The Nail’ Gvozdyk next month has been confirmed as the North American Boxing Federation (Nabf) light heavyweight title fight.
Initially, the bout was supposed to be a 10-round non-title bout.
Chilemba expressed delight at the development in an interview from Las Vegas in the United States (US) on Saturday.
“Gvosdyk currently holds the title, which I held until I lost toAleider Alvarez, but he [Alvarez] couldn’t defend it in the required time and it was taken away from him. So, Gvosdyk fought and won it.
“Initially, Gvosdyk did not want to put it [title] on the line for fear of losing it to me, but Nafb, Main Event Promotions, who are organising the fight, and my manager Jodi Solomon have pushed and forced him to put it on the line and I am so excited because come November 19, I am confident I will grab it from him,” he said.
Chilemba (24-4-2, 10 KOs), is coming off a hard-fought loss against WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev. He holds the impressive distinction as only the second fighter in Kovalev’s career to go the full 12 rounds.
Gvozdyk (11-0, 9 KOs) is a top-ten ranked light heavyweight in the WBC, WBO and IBF. Since making his professional debut in 2014, Oleksandr has defeated the first 11 opponents he has faced, stopping nine of them for an impressive 82 percent knockout-to-win ratio.
In his last bout Gvozdyk secured his fifth straight stoppage and made his first successful defence of his Nabf Light Heavyweight Title against Tommy Karpency in Las Vegas in July.
When asked about this match-up by Pro-Boxing, Chilemba said: “Firstly, I thank Main Events for standing by me and for this opportunity. I thank my manager, Jodi Solomon, for always standing by my side and believing in me. I thank HBO, my fans, and all boxing followers around the globe.
“Oleksandr Gvozdyk, with a good amateur background, who is a highly rated and undefeated as a pro. I’m going to work with my idol, the person I look up to most, Roy Jones Jr. This is a huge opportunity for me to train with him, learn from him, and have him in my corner.
“Not only is he the greatest, but he cares and has love for the game. I’m looking forward to getting back in the ring, and completing what I should have done in my fight against Kovalev, but 10 times better than ever!”
Chilemba’s manager, Solomon, said: “I am very grateful and happy that Main Events gave Isaac the opportunity to be on this card. I have no doubt he will come into the ring with as much determination and heart as he did against Kovalev and prove that he has what it takes. Also having Roy Jones Jr. in his corner I believe will only bring out an even better Isaac.” n
