Africa-Press – Malawi. All good things must come to an end. South Africa based Malawian light heavyweight boxer Isaac ‘Golden Boy’ Chilemba has taken a firm line, announcing his retirement to avoid risking his life.
The celebrated Malawian boxer fears for his eye sight and broken rib. In an interview from his base, Johannesburg, Chilemba confessed his body can no longer take blows.
“I think my body is tired. It is breaking apart, my elbow, ribs, eyesight… it is all failing. Now is best to say bye to it, to serve my brain.
“Otherwise I will get hurt, destroy my brain for getting hit to the head a lot, the next thing I would not even remember who I am, not even know my own children. So I am done,” Chilemba responded on WhatsApp Tuesday when asked about his next move in the ring.
Chilemba, who trekked to South Africa in 2004, was supposed to undergo a surgery in November last year but he opted to retire instead. “I did not do the surgery, I decided to just retire. I have a cracked rib. In order to fight again, I need to remove the broken piece and let it heal, then try again. Or, leave it as it is, let it heal as it is.
“But I cannot take the chance of getting hit there again. So, with age, the ability slowing down, I cannot force things. I am losing sight, I need glasses to drive now, I failed my licence renewal last year,” he said.
The 36-year-old, who is 1.83m tall, held the IBO super middle-weight title between 2010 and 2011 before challenging for the WBA, IBF and WBO light-heavyweight belts in 2016.
Currently, his record stands at 27 wins (11 KOs), three draws and nine defeats (a single KO). Malawi Professional Boxing Control Board President Lonzoe ‘Defector’ Zimba was unaware of Chilemba’s retirement.
“We are in the dark. We will get in touch with him to know his official stand then we will pick up from there,” Zimba, who in 2022 persuaded Chilemba to rescind his retirement plans, said.
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