Isaac Chilemba


Miguel Isaac Chilemba Zuze is a Malawian professional boxer who held the IBO super-middleweight title from 2010 to 2011, and challenged for the WBA, IBF, and WBO light-heavyweight titles in 2016.

Early professional career

Chilemba made his professional debut in Gauteng, South Africa on 19 October 2005 defeating Thamsanga Tindleni in the 2nd round of a 4 round contest. He compiled a run of eight successive victories before dropping a points decision to Willbeforce Shihepo on 5 July 2007 at the Emperor's Palace in Gauteng. The reverse to Shihepo was immediately rectified in his next fight, again in Gauteng, on 21 November 2007 defeating Shihepo on points over six rounds. Two more fights followed in 2008 resulting in wins over David Basajjamivule and Chamunorowa Gonorenda before Chilemba got the opportunity to fight for the African Boxing Unions super middleweight championship on 13 September 2008. The fight for the title once again took place at the Emperor's Palace and pitched Chilemba against the experienced former Commonwealth champion Charles Adamu with Chilemba winning the fight with a 12 round decision to lift the title.

Championship fights

In his next fight Chilemba stepped up to light heavyweight and challenged former victim David Basajjamivule for the WBO version of the light heavyweight title. The fight at the Graceland Casino in Mpumalanga took place on 13 June 2009 and resulted in a second victory over the Ugandan. Chilemba followed this up on 31 October 2009 with another title win, this time defeating French based Congolese fighter Doudou Ngumba to lift the African Boxing Union's light heavyweight version as well as the WBC International title. A first defence of the WBC title was due to have been made on 26 March 2010 with the Malawian travelling to England to meet former British champion Tony Oakey on a Ricky Hatton promoted bill. The fight however never materialised after Oakey lost an English title fight to fellow countryman Danny McIntosh. Following Oakey, the next opponent lined up for Chilemba was to be Rupert van Aswegen but he then chose to retire from the sport altogether leaving the Malawian once again without an opponent.

IBO World Title

Following the pullout, Chilemba moved back down at super middleweight for the chance to fight undefeated Australian Michael Bolling on 19 June 2010 for the vacant IBO world title. The fight at the Emperor's Palace, resulted in another win for the Malawian and was his fourth title fight in a row in which a different title had been on the line. Chilemba made the first defence of his IBO belt on 6 November 2010 returning to the Emperors Palace and retaining with a gruelling draw against touted South African Thomas Oosthuizen despite being the underdog going into the fight. On 25 February 2011 Chilemba travelled to Tulsa, Oklahoma to fight in the United States for the first time. His opponent, the unbeaten Russian Maxim Vlasov had won all 19 of his previous fights and managed to knock Chilemba down twice in the 8th round. Despite this the Malawian was able to win the fight over the 10 round distance. Chilemba returned to South Africa for his next fight against Namibian boxer Vikapita Meroro and retained the WBC International light heavyweight title on 26 March 2011 with a unanimous points win.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
35Win26–7–2 Alexander KubichUD813 Dec 2019 P.A.O.K. Sports Arena, Thessaloniki, Greece
34Loss25–7–2 Maxim VlasovUD1220 Jul 2019 Central Square, Gelendzhik, RussiaFor vacant EBP light-heavyweight title
33Loss25–6–2 Dmitry BivolUD124 Aug 2018 Etess Arena, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.For WBA light-heavyweight title
32Win25–5–2 Blake CaparelloUD1216 Mar 2018 The Melbourne Pavilion, Flemington, AustraliaWon vacant WBC International light-heavyweight title
31Loss24–5–2 Oleksandr Gvozdyk8, 3:0019 Nov 2016 T-Mobile Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.For NABF light-heavyweight title
30Loss24–4–2 Sergey KovalevUD1211 Jul 2016 Divs Hotel, Yekaterinburg, RussiaFor WBA, IBF, and WBO light-heavyweight titles
29Loss24–3–2 Eleider Álvarez1228 Nov 2015 Videotron Centre, Quebec City, Quebec, CanadaFor WBC Silver light-heavyweight title
28Win24–2–2 Vasily LepikhinUD1014 Mar 2015 Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec, CanadaWon vacant NABF light-heavyweight title
27Win23–2–2 Cory CummingsTKO7, 2:282 Aug 2014 Revel Atlantic City, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
26Win22–2–2 Denis GrachevUD1015 Mar 2014 Sands Casino Resort, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, U.S.
25Win21–2–2 Michael GbengaUD816 Nov 2013 Turning Stone Resort & Casino, Verona, New York, U.S.
24Loss20–2–2 Tony BellewUD1225 May 2013 The O2 Arena, London, EnglandFor WBC Silver light-heavyweight title
23Draw20–1–2 Tony BellewSD1230 Mar 2013 Echo Arena, Liverpool, EnglandFor WBC Silver light-heavyweight title
22Win20–1–1 Rayco SaundersUD829 Sep 2012 Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, U.S.
21Win19–1–1 Edison MirandaUD103 Feb 2012 Texas Station Casino, North Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
20Win18–1–1 Jameson BosticKO2, 1:481 Oct 2011 Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
19Win17–1–1 Vikapita MeroroUD1026 Mar 2011 Emperor's Palace, Kempton Park, South AfricaWon vacant WBC International light-heavyweight title
18Win16–1–1 Maxim VlasovUD1025 Feb 2011 Million Dollar Elm Casino, Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.
17Draw15–1–1 Thomas Oosthuizen126 Nov 2010 Emperor's Palace, Kempton Park, South AfricaRetained IBO super-middleweight title
16Win15–1 Michael BollingUD1219 Jun 2010 Emperor's Palace, Kempton Park, South AfricaWon vacant IBO super-middleweight title
15Win14–1 Doudou NgumbuUD1231 Oct 2009 Emperor's Palace, Kempton Park, South AfricaWon WBC International and ABU light-heavyweight titles
14Win13–1 David BasajjamivuleUD1213 Jun 2009 Graceland Hotel Casino, Secunda, South AfricaWon vacant WBO Africa light-heavyweight title
13Win12–1 Charles Adamu1213 Sep 2008 Emperor's Palace, Kempton Park, South AfricaWon vacant ABU super-middleweight title
12Win11–1 Chamunorwa GonorendaKO4 15 Jul 2008 Emperor's Palace, Kempton Park, South Africa
11Win10–1 David BasajjamivuleTKO8 29 Apr 2008 Emperor's Palace, Kempton Park, South Africa
10Win9–1 Willbeforce ShihepoPTS621 Nov 2007 Emperor's Palace, Kempton Park, South Africa
9Loss8–1 Willbeforce ShihepoPTS65 Jul 2007 Emperor's Palace, Kempton Park, South Africa
8Win8–0 Godfrey NeneTKO2 12 May 2007 Emperor's Palace, Kempton Park, South Africa
7Win7–0 Charles ChisambaPTS627 Mar 2007 Emperor's Palace, Kempton Park, South Africa
6Win6–0 Emmanuel GwalaTKO4 1 Dec 2006 Orlando Communal Hall, Soweto, South Africa
5Win5–0 Ronnie LateganTKO2 17 Nov 2006 Emperor's Palace, Kempton Park, South Africa
4Win4–0 Mark Sloane411 Jul 2006 Emperor's Palace, Kempton Park, South Africa
3Win3–0 Sithembiso Ngcobo1, 1:1825 May 2006 Carnival City, Brakpan, South Africa
2Win2–0 Oupa MahlanguTKO4 10 Feb 2006 Graceland Hotel Casino, Secunda, South Africa
1Win1–0 Thamsanqa Tindleni4 19 Oct 2005 Carnival City, Secunda, South Africa