Malawian light heavy weight boxer, Isaac Chilemba, says he is not scared fighting Russian Sergey Kovalev on July 11 at the latter’s home.
Chilemba (24-3-2, 10 KOs) was responding as to what he thought of fighting at DIVS Palace of Sports in Ekaterinburg where Roman Simakov died due to injuries he suffered after being knocked out by Kovalev in 2011.
“Whatever happened that time is not what is going to happen now. We cannot put two situations together. This is a different time, so I don’t think about what he did or what happened. All I believe is that the pressure is on Kovalev because he will be fighting in the place where he knew something happened when he fought there last time,” Chilemba, 28, told ringtv.craveonline.com
The unified light heavyweight world title holder Kovalev, 32, wants to defend at home his three belts against the Malawian, who is based in South Africa. American firm, Main Events, manages both boxers.
Kovalev, who will be making his eighth title defence, told ringtv.craveonline.com that he was determined to defend his title in his first fight since a one-sided, seventh-round knockout of former champion, Jean Pascal, in their rematch on January 30 in Pascal’s hometown of Montreal.
“I am so excited to fight in my home country of Russia. It gives me great pride to bring my titles home at last. I would like to thank my manager, Egis Klimas, my promoter, Kathy Duva and Igor Altushkin, of Russian Copper Company, for making this dream of mine a reality. Chilemba is a tough opponent and I will take him on,” said Kovalev (29-0-1, 26 KOs).
The Blantyre-born fighter stands a chance to seize from the Russian champion world belts for the International Boxing Federation (IBF), World Boxing Association (WBA) and World Boxing Council (WBC).
Main Events’ boss Duva earlier told the media that she expects a thriller.
“This is no easy fight for Sergey, though. Sergey wanted a challenging opponent for his return to Russia and someone who would help him prepare for Andre Ward in November, assuming he emerges with a win, ”she said.
Leave a Reply