Sergey Kovalev – Isaac Chilemba Preview & More…

By Donald “Braveheart” Stewart

Having fought and lost at the weekend, one Olympian, who lost his unbeaten professional record should take heart from those around him. It took a while for the UK to get an Olympian Gold medallist who was to become a world title holder; Lennox Lewis did not count because he got his Gold for Canada. The Cubans are famed for turning out very good amateurs but they don’t make the grade in the professional circuit.

In the US, you guys seem to be able to manage the crossover much better… However, that is absolutely no and I mean NO consolation for Jamel Herring 15-1, 8 KO’s, who fought at the Olympics in 2012 but ended up on the end of a defeat to Denis Shafikov 37-2-1, 19 KO’s, on Saturday the 2nd July.

I said I thought this was going to be tough for Herring and so it proved. I might not have been able to work out how tough as Shafikov beat Herring up and earned a stoppage in the last round – the 10th. Herring hit his backside in the 2nd and though they hit the ropes, the referee judged the ropes were holding him up therefore he was knocked down.

Shafikov had the power and the better work rate and going into the final round there was no doubt, had it gone to the score cards, where the winner was going to be from. It turned out that he did not need the judges as he had 30 seconds or so gone in the final round before it got waved off.

I had wondered if Shafikov would now get his name mentioned by current world champions and it has to be said there has been a deafening silence.

I can guarantee there is going to be no silence on Monday night – the 11th of July – in Ekaterinberg, Russia when Sergey Kovalev 29-0-1 26 KO’s, Shafikov’s compatriot, comes up against Isaac Chilemba 24-3-2, 10 KO’s, for the WBA super, IBF and WBO light heavyweight belts. Kovalev is the VERY heavy favorite for this fight.

Krusher comes into this fight unbeaten, the champion and it is in his home country. What could possibly go wrong? Of course, Chilemba could refuse to read the script is what could go horribly wrong.

This is Chilemba’s first world title fight and the popular South African based fighter could get all pent up and take Kovalev in ways that Kovalev has yet to contemplate. If Kovalev wants any advice then his fellow world champion, Tony Bellew 27-2-1, 21 KO’s, had 2 fights with Chilemba in 2013. Due to the first being a draw, Bellew got a rematch and in that rematch got the win. Both went the distance and Chilemba has that durability. Kovalev might be the one, though with the power to take him out.

Krusher comes into the fight sitting as he does, in 2nd place in Ring Magazine’s pound for pound list. Kovalev is back in Russia after almost a 5-year absence and the possibility of bigger fights – Andre Ward 29-0, 15 KO’s, has been confirmed for 19th November – will keep his focus on the job in hand. I think that the riches of the future shall concentrate the mind. Kovalev should have too much for Chilemba though I do wonder whether Kovalev shall take him out.

He has the ability and I think he has the power. I can see it going the distance or being stopped in the later rounds. I don’t think Chilemba shall fall down in the early or middle rounds but I reckon he will be vulnerable late on. Despite having that hardy reputation we all have vulnerabilities and in his fights with Bellew, at times, they were exposed. It’s a massive night for the division and when the final bell tolls I think it remains a home win.

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