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

[casheddie]

I've never seen Chilemba fight but I think his record shows he isn't a threat to Kov. Kovalev knocks him out in 8 or 9. After seeing the last two fights Kov has been in, I'm scared for any guy he faces next.

But the Ward - Kovalev fight is so goddamn interesting, they are roughly the same age and they are both great fighters. It's a truly 50/50 fight.

[HAY-B]

I think Kovalev will be too much for Chilemba. Yes Chelimba is a good boxer but to me he doesn't have enough speed or pop on his punches to make Kovalev respect him. Also this fight preps Kovalev for Ward as much as Brand preps Ward for Kovalev. The skillset of both Kovalev and Ward's opponents does nothing to show either man what to expect or what they'll see when the face off in November. These are stay busy/ make money fights. Diva get paid and both her fighters get paid and Ward gets paid as well.

[HeroBando]

I think Kovalev will be too much for Chilemba. Yes Chelimba is a good boxer but to me he doesn't have enough speed or pop on his punches to make Kovalev respect him. Also this fight preps Kovalev for Ward as much as Brand preps Ward for Kovalev. The skillset of both Kovalev and Ward's opponents does nothing to show either man what to expect or what they'll see when the face off in November. These are stay busy/ make money fights. Diva get paid and both her fighters get paid and Ward gets paid as well.

Not sure I agree. Not that Chilemba is great prep for Ward, but probably the best one around at 175. Theres no one that's great prep for Kovalev, but many better than Brand

[ShoulderRoll]

You're coming off a loss, Chilemba. A stepping stone is all you are unless you can prove otherwise.

[JUNIABOY]

No way is Kovalev going to be looking past Chilemba. In fact, he'll be using Chilemba's defense-first style to help him prepare for Ward. So you better believe he's going to bring the hammer to this fight. Chilemba is going to have to work on his strategy in camp, or else it will be a long night for him.

[mathed]

Chilemba is good. He's a tough, tricky mfer - both his 'losses' were razor thin could easily have been draws and I'd argue that Bellew I shudda gone his way. Myself I'd have him within the LHW top 10 and there's no-one outside of Kovalev and maybe Ward that I'd confidently predict beating him.. If Kovalev was looking for a good opponent to prepare himself for Ward he kinda lucked out, but Chilemba is absolutely right that Sergei shouldn't be looking past him and I doubt he is.

I thought Chilemba whooped up on Bellow personally. He is no slouch, has a very good jab and is tough.

[Boxfan7819]

Actually yes you are a stepping stone to the Ward fight

[mathed]

[HAY-B]

Not sure I agree. Not that Chilemba is great prep for Ward, but probably the best one around at 175. Theres no one that's great prep for Kovalev, but many better than Brand

But none better than Brand were willing so you have to take what you can get sometimes. Chelimba is getting the fighr with Kovalev because Its an in house fight. Basically Duva is sacrificing him for her gain as well as Kovalev's. I don't think Roc Nation has those capabilities right now nor do I think if they had a fighter of Chelimba's caliber they would do the same. It's business so you never know