Chilemba Warns Kovalev: I'm No Stepping Stone To Ward Fight!

By Edward Chaykovsky

Isaac 'Golden Boy' Chilemba (24-3-2, 10KOs) is very motivated to disrupt the lucrative plans of Sergey "Krusher" Kovalev.

Chilemba will challenge Kovalev for his WBA Super, IBF and WBO light heavyweight belts on July 11th in Russia. HBO will televise the fight as part of a special Monday broadcast.

Chilemba feels insulted that Kovalev and Main Events have already revealed a date of November 19th for a planned HBO Pay-Per-View showdown with Andre Ward (29-0, 15KOs) at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Chilemba is also promoted by Main Events.

Chilemba, who is listed as a very big underdog, has vowed to do everything possible to prevent Kovalev from reaching the fight with Ward.

"Clearly they see me as a stepping stone [and that's] total disrespect," said Chilemba to Sowetan. "They are looking past me when we have not fought which means they see me as just a sparring partner. I am now going out there with more reason to beat this guy."

"I am going to teach him some manners and in the process make history by becoming the first African fighter to win three titles in one night. I was trained by Jodi Solomon who has been really great. I truly believe everything we did in the gym will pay dividends," he said, adding that trainers Stephen Castle and Warren Hulley assisted in his camp."

Ward is also scheduled for an interim-bout. He faces Alexander Brand on August 5th in Oakland, California. If either Ward or Kovalev suffer an unexpected defeat, the deal for November would fall through.