ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. -- HBO hasn't put on many fight cards in 2018 but the network returns on August 4 to put on a really good one. That card will be headlined by a fight between Sergey Kovalev and Eleider Alvarez and the co-feature will be a WBA light heavyweight title fight between Dmitry Bivol (13-0, 11 KOs) and Isaac Chilemba (25-5-2, 10 KOs). It will be Bivol bringing that title belt into the ring and it will be his third defense.
Bivol is a 27-year-old orthodox fighter with very good power. He's a confident fighter who loves to put his punches together and he really believes in his power. He isn't just a slow slugger though, he has plenty of skills and fairly quick hands. Offensively there isn't much Bivol can't do. He has a stiff jab along with a strong left hook and a big right hand, all of which can do damage, especially the right hand. Bivol's chin hasn't truly been tested yet but it won't be against Chilemba who isn't a big puncher.
Bivol's professional career began just four years ago. He got off to a hot start, putting together a six fight knockout streak before winning back-to-back fights by unanimous decision. He then began another knockout streak which has now stretched to five fights and counting. Bivol has beaten quality veterans like Robert Berridge and Cedric Agnew but his toughest opponent was Sullivan Barrera who he fought in March of 2018. If Barrera represented a step up in competition for Bivol he showed he was up to the task, dominating Barrera before stopping him late. The light heavyweight division is a strong one and there are plenty of big fights for Bivol to make should he take care of business against Chilemba.
Chilemba fights out of the orthodox stance but doesn't have nearly the same type of power that Bivol has shown. He does have a good jab he works behind and he will often double that punch up. Following the jab is an accurate right hand but he might not have the type of power that will make Bivol think twice before coming in on the attack. Where Chilemba might be best is on the defensive side of things. He has been dropped before but did go the distance against Sergey Kovalev and the only time he's ever been stopped is when he quit on his stool after reportedly suffering a broken hand. Against Bivol, Chilemba will need to be at his best defensively.
When it comes to experience Chilemba definitely has the advantage over Bivol. He began his professional career in 2005 and has fought top opponents like Kovalev, Tony Bellew, and Alvarez. It is surprising he is getting a title shot even though he won his most recent fight. That's because before that victory Chilemba had gone 0-3 and at number 11 he's ranked just outside the top 10 by the World Boxing Association. A loss for Chilemba would relegate him to gatekeeper status but a win could give him a late career revival.
This fight should be a battle between the power and aggressiveness of Bivol against the experience and defense of Chilemba. Look for Chilemba to really work his jab as he attempts to control the distance and use his footwork to avoid punishment. His stamina in this fight will need to be excellent because he can't afford to stand still and trade with Bivol. As for Bivol look for him to be calculated for the first few rounds as he tries to figure Chilemba out and measure the distance for his punches. Once he feels comfortable he should step up his punch output and he needs to cut the ring of well to keep Chilemba where he wants him and where he can do damage.
PREDICTION: Isaac Chilemba is a good fighter with skills which always makes him a tough opponent. The first few rounds of this fight could go either way but Chilemba has slowed with age and Dmitry Bivol will take full advantage of that. As the rounds go by Bivol will get better and better and he will stop Chilemba in the ninth round.
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| Bivol having his hand raised in victory |
Bivol's professional career began just four years ago. He got off to a hot start, putting together a six fight knockout streak before winning back-to-back fights by unanimous decision. He then began another knockout streak which has now stretched to five fights and counting. Bivol has beaten quality veterans like Robert Berridge and Cedric Agnew but his toughest opponent was Sullivan Barrera who he fought in March of 2018. If Barrera represented a step up in competition for Bivol he showed he was up to the task, dominating Barrera before stopping him late. The light heavyweight division is a strong one and there are plenty of big fights for Bivol to make should he take care of business against Chilemba.
Chilemba fights out of the orthodox stance but doesn't have nearly the same type of power that Bivol has shown. He does have a good jab he works behind and he will often double that punch up. Following the jab is an accurate right hand but he might not have the type of power that will make Bivol think twice before coming in on the attack. Where Chilemba might be best is on the defensive side of things. He has been dropped before but did go the distance against Sergey Kovalev and the only time he's ever been stopped is when he quit on his stool after reportedly suffering a broken hand. Against Bivol, Chilemba will need to be at his best defensively.
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| Chilemba catching Tony Bellew with a sharp jab |
This fight should be a battle between the power and aggressiveness of Bivol against the experience and defense of Chilemba. Look for Chilemba to really work his jab as he attempts to control the distance and use his footwork to avoid punishment. His stamina in this fight will need to be excellent because he can't afford to stand still and trade with Bivol. As for Bivol look for him to be calculated for the first few rounds as he tries to figure Chilemba out and measure the distance for his punches. Once he feels comfortable he should step up his punch output and he needs to cut the ring of well to keep Chilemba where he wants him and where he can do damage.
PREDICTION: Isaac Chilemba is a good fighter with skills which always makes him a tough opponent. The first few rounds of this fight could go either way but Chilemba has slowed with age and Dmitry Bivol will take full advantage of that. As the rounds go by Bivol will get better and better and he will stop Chilemba in the ninth round.
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