Dmitry Bivol vs. Isaac Chilemba - August 4, 2018 on HBO

[Ruthless-RKO]

WBA World light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol (13-0, 11 KOs) could be making his next defense against the struggling 31-year-old former world title challenger Isaac Chilemba (25-5-2, 10 KOs) on August 4 on HBO, according to Dan Rafael.

k Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Bivol fought on the undercard of Kovalev’s last fight against Igor Mikhalkin on HBO on March 3 at Madison Square Garden in New York. Bivol easily beat Sullivan Barrera.

”Chilemba is one of the possible opponents for Bivol,” Bivol’s manager Vadim Kornilov said to Dan Rafael of ESPN.com. “We will know for sure in the next couple of days.”

[sweetviolenturge]

Meh... but I realize that there's not a whole lot to choose from at the moment. Not with four titlists actively defending their belts. Hell, five when you consider Gvozdyk's interim 'BC belt is in play.
And, since I'd much rather see Bivol stay busy than not, I guess Chelemba's not that bad of an option. He's gone the limit with Tony Bellew, Alvarez & Kovalev & taken Gvozdyk deep, so it would be a good gauge to see where Bivol's at compared to those fighters. So, I'm cool with it.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Meh... but I realize that there's not a whole lot to choose from at the moment. Not with four titlists actively defending their belts. Hell, five when you consider Gvozdyk's interim 'BC belt is in play.
And, since I'd much rather see Bivol stay busy than not, I guess Chelemba's not that bad of an option. He's gone the limit with Tony Bellew, Alvarez & Kovalev & taken Gvozdyk deep, so it would be a good gauge to see where Bivol's at compared to those fighters. So, I'm cool with it.

Chilemba dishes out tough fights.. Apart from his shoulder going against Gvozdyk, he was doing well..

He arguably beat Bellew both times.

[Ruthless-RKO]

WBA Rankings

1 ELEIDER ALVAREZ
2 MARCUS BROWNE
3 KARO MURAT
4 SULLIVAN BARRERA
5 SHEFAT ISUFI
6 FELIX VALERA (LAC)
7 JOE SMITH JR
8 JUERGEN BRAEHMER
9 JEAN PASCAL
10 JOE FOURNIER (INT)
11 MIKE LEE
12 ISAAC CHILEMBA
13 NADJIB MOHAMMEDI (CON)
14 JAKE BALL (I/C)
15 CHARLES FOSTER (NABA)

Chilemba may not be ranked highly, but he's no doubt a credible opponent.

[jamamb]

that article says 'struggling' chilemba but i think that makes it sound worse then it is

chilemba was super close vs alvarez and many had him winning, and he gave kovalev some issues. there was the not good showing vs gvodzyk but he rebounded by beating caparello in caparellos backyard

ya hes not an opponent to be thrilled about but chilemba is a crafty guy who would be good experience for pretty much anyone, including bivol. it will be a good fight for him to work on creating openings vs a tricky sometimes negative opponent

[ValMar]

Chilemba is a solid, slick LHW, but he has no chance against Bivol. It would be a meaningless fight, for me.

[Mexi-Box]

Chilemba is a solid, slick LHW, but he has no chance against Bivol. It would be a meaningless fight, for me.

He'd be Bivol's best or second best win. Not at all meaningless. Chilemba has an underrated resume because he was in razor-close fights. I thought he beat Alvarez. Only the absolute best have had a relatively easy time against Chilemba. Not even Kovalev liked his performance against Chilemba.

[Best Coast]

Easy win for Bivol but putting it on Kovalev's undercard for the 2nd consecutive time would obviously make it a "teaser" for his increasingly inevitable showdown with Kovalev.

The only question (if Bivol-Chilemba becomes reality) would then be "Is this the last 'tuneup' bout for Bivol-Kovalev?

[lazboy]

Appreciate lh is a busy place right now. Also chilemba operates on a decent level so this is a good keep busy, keep warm type of opponent but there’s no intrigue. Just see Bivol punching holes in him.....

[Andrew]

I would rather something better but Bivol is being active and Chilemba would be his second best win.

Main event is good though,

[Enlightened-One]

A fighter like Bivol needs to be facing someone better than Chilemba.

[Ruthless-RKO]

A fighter like Bivol needs to be facing someone better than Chilemba.

Chilemba gave Kovalev an awkward/tough type fight.
Some had Chilemba beating Alvarez.

Chilemba would probably give Barrera a tough fight too.

The rankings above aren't all that great and availability it's really that good either. Joe Smith might get himself into position..

Duva has stated tht Bivol and Kovalev will likely co-headline another card later this year and likely fight next year. Initially her plan was for them to fight on same card in August (as they will do) and then fight each other later this year.

[DrDuke]

Bivol, of course, is far more likely to win, but I'm not sure about his chances to score a KO here.

[Enlightened-One]

A fighter like Bivol needs to be facing someone better than Chilemba.

Chilemba gave Kovalev an awkward/tough type fight.
Some had Chilemba beating Alvarez.

Chilemba would probably give Barrera a tough fight too.

The rankings above aren't all that great and availability it's really that good either. Joe Smith might get himself into position..

Duva has stated tht Bivol and Kovalev will likely co-headline another card later this year and likely fight next year. Initially her plan was for them to fight on same card in August (as they will do) and then fight each other later this year.

For sure, Chilemba isn't the worst opponent, but Bivol should be facing someone better than him.

Perhaps I'm being unreasonable and overly critical, but it's just that I can't get excited about fights where the outcome is already a foregone conclusion.

Is the reason for Bivol facing an opponent like Chilemba due to HBO's limited roster of fighters?

[jamamb]

which guys in the wba rankings should he fight on the 4th

[Enlightened-One]

which guys in the wba rankings should he fight on the 4th

Would you consider fighters like Juergen Braehmer, Badou Jack and Marcus Browne better opponents than Isaac Chilemba?

[jamamb]

ya for sure, although is jack gonna take a fight so soon after stevenson (and is he going for a rematch?) , i dont see him rated either? maybe he is though

i remember browne was supposed to be the one fighting kov, i in forget what happened there

but in the wba ratings chilemba is one of the best i think, and its widdled down even more with guys either having stuff scheduled or already fought bivol

[Ruthless-RKO]

which guys in the wba rankings should he fight on the 4th

Would you consider fighters like Juergen Braehmer, Badou Jack and Marcus Browne better opponents than Isaac Chilemba?

Jack wouldn't fight so soon and he already vacated instead of fighting Bivol..

Browne is in trouble with the law.. He should have been scheduled to fight Kovalev. Braehmer would be a good opponent, but he's still hungover on the SMW WBSS tourney. I think he's remaining at 168.

[jamamb]

i actually didnt notice braehmers name

[KiwiRider]

If Chilemba is injury free and fit, then it's not that easy a fight for Bivol. In fact, I think it will be a good learning experience (assuming we get a good Chilemba on the niggt) in preparation for the top level.
For Bivol's 15th fight, Chilemba is fine. He is slick enough to not let Bivol have it all his own way.

[ValMar]

I can not imagine the way for Chilemba's victory. I would like to see any serious boxing fan with the different attitude.

[Mexi-Box]

I can not imagine the way for Chilemba's victory. I would like to see any serious boxing fan with the different attitude.

I gave Sullivan Barrera no chance against Bivol. Doesn't mean it was a meaningless fight. I'd also give Browne, Jack, and Stevenson no chance against Bivol either.

[ValMar]

I can not imagine the way for Chilemba's victory. I would like to see any serious boxing fan with the different attitude.

I gave Sullivan Barrera no chance against Bivol. Doesn't mean it was a meaningless fight. I'd also give Browne, Jack, and Stevenson no chance against Bivol either.

Chilemba's maximum might be loss by UD type 118-110, Stevenson would have at least the puncher's chance. Jack and Browne ? No more than 5% chance to beat Bivol.
I would like to see Bivol vs. Beterbiev, ASAP.

[Mexi-Box]

I can not imagine the way for Chilemba's victory. I would like to see any serious boxing fan with the different attitude.

I gave Sullivan Barrera no chance against Bivol. Doesn't mean it was a meaningless fight. I'd also give Browne, Jack, and Stevenson no chance against Bivol either.

Chilemba's maximum might be loss by UD type 118-110, Stevenson would have at least the puncher's chance. Jack and Browne ? No more than 5% chance to beat Bivol.
I would like to see Bivol vs. Beterbiev, ASAP.

If that's true, then Bivol is insanely good. I'd give Jack even less chance than Chilemba. Chilemba has a good chin. Jack would be terrified and get stopped.

[ValMar]

I gave Sullivan Barrera no chance against Bivol. Doesn't mean it was a meaningless fight. I'd also give Browne, Jack, and Stevenson no chance against Bivol either.

Chilemba's maximum might be loss by UD type 118-110, Stevenson would have at least the puncher's chance. Jack and Browne ? No more than 5% chance to beat Bivol.
I would like to see Bivol vs. Beterbiev, ASAP.

If that's true, then Bivol is insanely good. I'd give Jack even less chance than Chilemba. Chilemba has a good chin. Jack would be terrified and get stopped.

Chilemba's basic problem is a lack of power, and yes, Bivol is very, very good. It is very sad that Ward retired.