Isaac Chilemba

By Dan Ambrose: Sergey Kovalev did what he had to do for him to keep hi IBF, WBA, WBO light heavyweight titles tonight in beating a game but limited power-wise Isaac Chiemba by a 12 round unanimous decision.

Kovalev started slow in the early rounds, but finally got his offense in gear in the 7th round when he put Chilemba down with a rocket right hand to the head. The challenger got back to his feet and took more abuse from Kovalev, but made it out of the round and survived the full 12 rounds.

The Kovalev vs. Chilemba fight took place at the DIVS Sports Palace in Ekaterinburg, Russia.
The final judges’ scores saw Kovalev win by the scores of 117-110, 116-111 and 118-109.

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By Allan Fox: IBF/WBA/WBO light heavyweight champion Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (30-0-1. 26 KOs) easily defeated challenger Isaac Chilemba (24-4-2, 10 KOs) in beating him by a 12 round unanimous decision on Monday night at the DIVS Arena in Ekaterinburg, Russia.

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By Allan Fox: IBF/WBA/WBO light heavyweight champion Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (29-0-1, 26 KOs) and his opponent Isaac Chilemba (24-3-2, 10 KOs) both made weight successfully on Sunday for their on Monday night on HBO World Championship Boxing from the DIVS in Ekaterinburg, Russia.

The 6’0” Kovalev tipped the scales at 174.6lbs, and looked in top condition. The taller 6’2” Chilemba weighed in 174.8lbs. Despite being two inches taller than Kovalev, the reach between is about the same with Chilemba enjoying a half inch reach. That’s not going to be enough for Chilemba to stay on the outside avoid getting hit all night in this fight. He’s going to have to trade with Kovalev if he wants to win the fight.

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(Photo Credit: David Spagnolo/Main Events) By Eric Baldwin: Isaac Chilemba (24-3-2, 10 KOs) will be challenging for multiple world titles this week in five days from now against IBF/WBA/WBO light heavyweight champion Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (29-0-1, 26 KOs) on July 11 at the DIVS Ekaterinburg, Russia.

Chilemba doesn’t mind that he’s going to be fighting in Kovalev’s home country of Russia, because he likes the idea of going in and beating one of his opponents in front of his own fans. Chilemba also is quite happy to be fighting for several titles at once rather than just one title.

He’s fortunate to be getting a world title shot at all, because he lost his last fight against Eleider Alvarez by a 12 round majority decision last November.

While it was close enough to be considered a draw in the minds of many boxing fans, two of the judges didn’t see it that way. They scored it in Alvarez’s favor with the scores of 118-110 and 115-113.

“I love fighting in someone’s home. That is where I can prove to the world that I am not just a fighter in the ring but I am fighter in my spirit and my soul,” said Chilemba. “I can go to someone else’s hometown and defeat them in their backyard.”

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By Allan Fox: HBO Championship Boxing has decided to television the July 11th fight between IBF/WBA/WBO light heavyweight champion Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (29-0-1, 26 KOs) and fellow Main Events fighter #12 WBA Isaac Chilemba (24-3-, 10 KOs) from the DIVS Palace of Sports in Ekaterinburg, Russia.

It’s not an ideal date because the fight is taking place on a Monday rather than on Saturday, July 9. By the fight taking place on the 11th of July, it won’t have to compete with the big rematch between IBO/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion Tyson Fury an Wladimir Klitschko on July 9. There won’t be any competition for the fight.

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By Ian Aldous: As Sergey Kovalev (29-0-1) prepares for his long-awaited Russian homecoming in Ekaterinburg on Monday July 11th against Isaac Chilemba (24-3-2), the WBA, IBF and WBO light-heavyweight world champion has been on an incredible run since signing with Main Events in 2012. This week, Main Events CEO and co-founder, Kathy Duva, took some time to talk with me about how life with Sergey has panned out under her promotional wing.

IA: When you signed Sergey in November 2012, did you face much competition for his signature, or was he a little under the radar? Am I right in saying he fought on one or two of your undercards before you signed him?

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By Allan Fox: Sergey Kovalev will be facing a very slick fighter on July 11 in Isaac Chilemba on July 11 in Ekaterinburg, Russia. This is a fight to prepare Kovalev for the slick style of former WBA super middleweight champion Andre Ward, who Kovalev(29-0-1, 26 KOs) will be fighting later this year if he and Ward win their next fights.

Kovalev, 32, will be defending his IBF/WBA/WBO 175lb titles against the 28-year-old Chilemba (24-3-2, 10 KOs) at the Palace of Sports.

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