By Jake Donovan

The light heavyweight division remains loaded with mouthwatering possibilities along with a slew of intriguing matchups at the top level.


At stake for the winner is a mandatory title shot at World light heavyweight champion Adonis Stevenson. Neither boxer has ever before challenged for a major title, though Alvarez received his first taste last year. 

A 7th round knockout of Ryno Liebenberg provided the Canada-based Colombian with contender-level experience in the light heavyweight division last October. It was a massive step up in competition for Alvarez (18-0, 10KOs) who passed the test with flying colors. 

He has since added two more wins to his ledger in 2015, including a 10-round unanimous decision over Isidro Ranoni Prieto this past August in Montreal. The bout took place on the undercard of a show headlined by the ring return of former super middleweight Lucian Bute, who faces James DeGale on this very show later Saturday evening. 

Alvarez hopes to once again set the table for his adopted countryman, but standing in his way is one of the toughest outs in the light heavyweight division. 

Chilemba (24-2-2, 10KOs) has developed a reputation as that contender nobody wants to face and perhaps for good reason. The 28-year old doesn't exactly boast a fan-friendly style, nor are his opponents able to gain the upper hand for very long. Tony Bellew came the closest in his draw and eventual win in two fights with the Malawi-born boxer. 

Four straight wins have followed for Chilemba, including an impressive showing in a 10-round win over previously unbeaten Vasily Lepikhin this past March in Montreal, Canada. 

Who will prevail in the light heavyweight eliminator? Read on to see how the staff at BoxingScene.com believes Saturday's action plays out. 

BOXINGSCENE.COM STAFF PREDICTIONS: ELEIDER ALVAREZ vs. ISAAC CHILEMBA

Miguel Assuncao (Alvarez Dec.): Chilemba's back-foot counter-punch style is usually effective, if not particularly exciting, but I feel Alvarez's speed will be the telling difference and help him to a decision win.

Matt Bevan (Alvarez Dec.): Eleider Alvarez is a quality prospect at light-heavy, but there are still some questions surrounding him that need answering. Isaac Chilemba is a man that will provide the answers to those questions and show us if Alvarez is the real deal. Chilemba is well known over in the UK after his two bouts with Tony Bellew, which were hardly entertaining affairs, but you underestimate him at your peril because if you do, you won’t be leaving that ring victorious. I think Alvarez is potentially world class and will get the win, but he will have to survive some rocky moments during the clash. I’m going with Alvarez to prevail over Chilemba by a tight, split decision.

Shaun Brown (Chilemba Dec.): Chilemba really impressed me last time out against Vasily Lepikhin, an unbeaten contender who was held in high regard in some quarters. I've never been overly impressed by Alvarez except when he beat Ryno Liebenberg last October. I believe Chilemba has the superior brain and skills to beat Alvarez and get a points win en route to a deserved world title shot.

Ryan Burton (Alvarez Dec): I believe that this will be a closer fight than many expected and the fighter promoted by the house promoter will get the split decision nod in a fight that some may see as controversial.

Jake Donovan (Chilemba Dec.): Conventional wisdom suggests Chilemba would have to win big to get a fighting chance on the road versus Alvarez. I think he's a bit too tough and too much for the local favorite, handing Alvarez his first loss in a fight closer on the cards than the action actually suggests. 

Stephen "Breadman" Edwards (Chilemba Dec.): Chilemba wins in Canada for the second time this year, here in a split decision to land his shot at Adonis Stevenson. 

Michael Gibbons (Alvarez Dec.): Alvarez gets a split decision, gaining the benefit of the doubt amongst the judges in his adopted home country. 

Ben Jacobs (Alvarez Dec.): This is an important fight in the light heavyweight division as the winner will likely face Adonis Stevenson for the WBC belt.  Chilemba is awkward and difficult to look good against, as Tony Bellew found out in their two encounters.  Álvarez recently told BoxingScene.com that he was fighting with injuries but has looked the part more in recent bouts, particularly with his stoppage of previously unbeaten Ryno Liebenberg. I envisage another distance fight in this one.  Both men are durable, although the more likely to secure a knockout is Álvarez who carries the more solid punch.  In the end I believe the Colombian will take the victory in his adopted home of Quebec.

Takahiro Onaga (Chilemba Dec.): I've liked Alvarez since very early on but don't see him beating the talented Chilemba. I will say this is a brilliant match up and the winner is well deserving of a shot at the top.

Cliff Rold (Alvarez Dec.): This is a really intriguing fight. Chielmba is the steadier of the two. Alvarez appears the better raw talent. I'll go with the latter.

Victor Salazar (Draw): Chilemba will make it ugly enough for him not to win a decision in the home base of the adopted Canadien from Colombia, ending in a draw.

Alexey Sukachev (Alvarez UD): Alvarez was a nice amateur fighter and he has gradually developed into a fringe contender. Chilemba, who can be as awkward as any other fighter in business, lacks those basics Alvarez possesses. Still a very hard fight for the Canadian, who will outpoint Chilemba with scores like 117-111. The Malawian always comes up a little short in his career-defining fights.

Jake Donovan is the managing editor of BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox