Chilemba faulted on aggression

Isaac ‘Golden Boy’ Chilemba has to go back to basics and rework on his aggression and killer punch if he is to realise his world title dream, the Malawi-born pugilist’s coach has made it plain.

“He has to work on his aggression. His lack of natural killer punch could be compensated by effective aggression. He could suffocate opposition that way,” explained Chilemba’s childhood Blantyre mentor Andson Kazembe.

Also based in Johannesburg, South Africa, Kazembe was responding to Weekend Nation on what is next for the fighter after recent loss to Briton Anthony Bellew in a World Boxing Council (WBC) light heavyweight final eliminator.

If he had won, Chilemba would fight WBC champion Chad Dawson. But now, Kazembe said the boxers’ team comprising himself and manager Jodi Solomon were working on the boxer’s weakness.

“He has to go back to the basics, but you know, it may not work against other boxers. However, he believes that is what he had to do and Jodi, the manager, keeps saying that is what the Americans like.”

On Wednesday, the South Africa-based boxer admitted that he had work to do on his boxing style if he is to scale greater heights.

“On power and aggression, I will definitely need to improve, but the only thing I need most is to adjust on my style (speed and fitness levels), then everything else will come with it,” said the 25-year-old in a response to a questionnaire.

He claimed that he will know his next opponent between August and September.

Chilemba had until the defeat in May not lost in over 20 fights since 2005, but in those fights, he hardly won through knockouts. Chilemba, who was born in Blantyre, relocated to South Africa in 2003, to team up with promoters such as Golden Gloves before switching to American firm, DiBella Entertainment.