Chilemba set for rematch

Malawi’s revered boxing envoy Isaac ‘Golden Boy’ Chilemba has vowed to sweat blood today (Saturday) when he takes to the ring for a rematch against Briton Anthony Bellew at the O2 Arena in London.

The duo will fight on the undercard of Carl Froch’s blockbuster bout with Mikkel Kessler.

Chilemba and Bellew agreed a quick rematch after a score draw in their WBC light heavyweight final eliminator in Liverpool in March.

The winner will become mandatory challenger for the WBC light heavyweight title, which Chad Dawson defends against Adonis Stevenson in Canada on June 8.

Responding to a questionnaire from London on Friday, Chilemba wrote: “I am ready and very relaxed. The weather is also kind as it is warm here. I cannot just wait.

“I am looking forward to this fight and making sure I win having been robbed the last time I fought him at his home ground where it was judged as a draw.”

Chilemba also said his sight is set on reaching the promised land, to become WBC light heavyweight champion.

“But before that, I have to clear the hurdle at hand and that is getting done with Bellew,” said Chilemba.

He also said a victory today will boost his chances of fighting in Malawi.

“I know a lot of people back home would love to see me fight on home soil, but to realise that dream, I need to be in control first, which is being a champion, then my management can push for that to happen,” said Chilemba who is now ranked first in Africa and 12th in the world by World Boxing Organisation (WBO).

He intends to shock the ‘Scouser’ on the biggest stage of all.

“For most opportunity knocks once, I have been fortunate and with my blessing of a second chance I will not leave my future in anyone else’s hands,” he declared, adding: “I believe I won the first fight but that is now irrelevant, but I will be winning the second fight.”

But Bellew also spoke tough in the countdown to the bout and declared that this time around, the ‘Golden Boy’ does not stand a chance.

“It is great to have the opportunity to put things right. I have to get my head down and work doubly hard in the weeks ahead of the fight to make sure the job gets done properly this time around.

“I have had a bit of stick, but I can take it and I have learnt from what happened. It will be a different fight this time around, the first fight should have been a great one, but it just did not work out that way. I won’t be making predictions this time, just concentrating on working hard and beating Isaac to land that world title shot,” Bellew was quoted as saying by Boxingrecnews.

Promoter Eddie Hearn added: “I am over the moon to add this fight to a special night of boxing. Both men have a score to settle and I take my hat off to them for agreeing the rematch so quickly. I think you will see a different kind of fight this time, no one will leave it to chance and both need to make a statement this time around.”

PICTURE: Chilemba

Caption:

I am ready and very relaxed