Chilemba to become full-time trainer
Celebrated South Africa-based Malawian boxer Isaac ‘Golden Boy’ Chilemba says he will have at least three more bouts before retiring to concentrate on his new career as a boxing trainer.
The 35-year-old made the statement after his first official assignment as a trainer saw his boxer Denis Mwale settling for a draw against Hannock ‘Hard-knocker’ Phiri during a title fight in the Knockout Suicide bill at the Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (Kuhes) Sports Complex in Blantyre on Friday night.
However, he cast doubt on whether his wish of having one of his fights on home soil will materialise.
Said the former IBO world champion: “I am getting old now, it is time for me to hang up my gloves. But I still feel I have two to three more bouts to call it a day. I am happy to have opened another window to train others.”
On whether his dream of fighting in Malawi will be realised, Chilemba said: “I don’t think that will happen after being frustrated for over 10 years.”
But Malawi Professional Boxing Control Board president Lonzoe Zimba yesterday said they will still strive to ensure that Malawians watch one of Chilemba’s remaining bouts at home.
He said: “We are currently engaging a number of corporate partners to bring one of Chilemba’s fights home and the talks are progressing well. It won’t be good to see one of Malawi’s biggest names in boxing not having a single fight in his motherland.”
Chilemba has so far hosted most of his bouts in South Africa.
He started his professional boxing career in 2005 with a second-round knockout win against Thansanga Tindleni in Gauteng, South Africa.
Chilemba, who is 1.83m tall, held the IBO super middle-weight title between 2010 and 2011 before challenging for the WBA, IBF and WBO light-heavyweight belts in 2016.
His record now stands at 27 wins (11 KOs), three draws and nine defeats (a single KO).
