Preview of Isaac Chilemba vs. Lenar Perez

Isaac Chilemba is in tough on Thursday against undefeated cruiserweight Lenar Perez at the Montreal Casino in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. A native of Malawi based in South Africa, Chilemba is coming out of retirement to act as a gatekeeper for Perez.

Nicknamed the "Golden Boy," Chilemba is far removed from the days when he challenged Tony Bellew in two competitive fights. He has had a remarkable career, but the slick boxer's record is just 3-8-1 over the last ten years. His overall record is 27-10-3, facing such esteemed fighters as Dmitry Bivol, Olexandr Govzdyk, and Sergey Kovalev.

In his prime, Chilemba was one of the best defensive fighters in the game. His best weights were super middle and light heavy. In recent years, he's fought only two rounds since 2022. Cruiserweight Alexei Papin stopped him in the second round of their 2024 clash. Chilemba looked overmatched in that one. Not only is he in his late 30s, but the Golden Boy has not always lived the clean life, admitting to bouts with alcoholism.

Perez (15-0, 14 KOs) is a 28 year old Cuban resident of Russia. He has fought for Shamo Boxing, IBA Pro, and recently signed with Eye of the Tiger Promotions. A skilled fighter, he goes to the body far more than one would expect a 6'5" Cuban to do. He used a body shot to set up the chopping rights that stopped Giorgi Tevdorashvili in 2019 and ended the fight against Igor Vilchitskiy with a left to the liver in the fourth round of their 2020 affair.

Vilchitskiy repeatedly landed uppercuts, which knocked out Perez's mouthpiece three times in the third round. Though Perez is a taller fighter, uppercuts seem to be his kryptonite.

Perez boxes well behind a smart jab. He sometimes curls up into a Philly shell and rarely counters. He prefers to fire combinations when it's his turn to throw. After 14 consecutive knockouts to start his career, the Cuban had no problem outboxing Aleksei Egorov last April to win something called the IBA intercontinental belt.

Perez signifies a tough ask for Chilemba, who may have given Perez a frustrating fight in his prime. However, Perez holds the size, height, reach, activity, and youth advantages. Chilemba may present Perez with a puzzle early, but Perez could very well coast to a decision victory if he doesn't get the aging Malawan out early.

This bout is scheduled for ten rounds and will be broadcast on DAZN.

Barwick Drops Disputed Decision to Novas

Brooklyn "Big Deal" Barwick lost by unanimous decision tonight to Grecia Novas at Polideportivo Virgilio Frias in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Barwick was shocked and confused when the decision was read.

The 26 year old spent the previous fight standing behind the blue corner with her team, Jimmy Sosa and Nisa Rodriguez, shifting her weight from one foot to the other. She walked to the ring after the announcer butchered her last name.

Barwick began the fight on the front foot as Novas backed away. When the two fighters got close, the scrap became dirtier than a pig in slop. Barwick led with her head as the two exchanged rabbit punches in the clinches. Referee Oscar Peña warned both fighters. Barwick landed a combination with a straight right followed by a jab to end the round.

Barwick had trouble mounting an effective offense for much of the fight because Novas jabbed and held, jabbed and held again. She feinted often in the second, but couldn't land off her feints. Meanwhile, Novas jabbed well, landed a counter right to the body, and did some more behind-the-head hunting.

Novas's best round was the third as she boxed in rhythm. The Dominican crowd got behind her, cheering with each landed jab. Barwick blocked most of her overhand rights, but the crowd whooped as if they had connected. Barwick managed to turn the tide at the end of the round with two straight rights.

The fourth round belonged to Barwick. She worked her right to the body in the clinches as if she were a throwback fighter from a hundred years ago. She added straight rights, and thwarted Novas's overhand rights.

Despite dropping the fourth, Novas danced before the start of the fifth. She scored with jabs that round, but Barwick scored with rights and in professional boxing's version of Rock, Paper, Scissors, the back hand beats the lead hand when a similar number of shots find their target.

The final round was nearly as rough as the opening one. Barwick was ready for Novas's propensity to foul. Peña didn't do enough to keep the fight clean, nor did he warn Novas once for holding, which she did repeatedly in the sixth. Barwick didn't land much in that round while the hometown fighter at least snuck in a few jabs.

When the scores were read 59-55, 58-56, and 58-56 for Novas, she looked pleasantly surprised while Barwick's face was filled with shock and disgust. The Jewish Boxing Blog scored the bout 56-56.

Novas improves her record to 20-32-4 with 10 KOs. Barwick is now 6-1 with 6 KOs. Brooklyn fought a 55-fight veteran a bit too early in her career. Barwick didn't have an amateur career, only a few influencer bouts. She was also victimized by a hometown referee who allowed Novas to foul constantly and by the local judges. It's hard to justify a 59-55 score for Novas. Barwick's major issue was an inability to find her way inside enough and prevent the wily veteran from holding.

This fight was a lesson for Barwick, a pup in the game of boxing. Sometimes a dog's gotta pee on the rug a few times before it earns a treat.

Brooklyn Barwick and Grecia Novas Weigh-In

Brooklyn Barwick and Grecia Novas weighed in ahead of their clash tomorrow at Polideportivo Virgilio Frias in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The NBA featherweight title is at stake in this six round affair. Barwick is looking to become the fastest Jewish woman to win a major sanctioning body's belt. This will be her seventh fight - BoxRec only lists four of them - and less than a year since she turned pro.

Barwick's weight was announced as 126 pounds, but she says the official weight is 125.8. Either way, she was able to eat the day before and still make weight. Novas reportedly came in at 127.4 pounds, which is over the featherweight limit but within the weight allowance.

Novas and her team seemed dismissive of Barwick during the weigh-in. Barwick was there alone as her team, Jimmy Sosa and Nisa Rodriguez, were stuck in New York because of the massive storm that dumped nearly two feet of snow on the city. Barwick's flight was also delayed, but she managed to get another one after much trouble to make it down to Santo Domingo.

The fighters were forced to wait to weigh in as an official arrived hours late. Barwick, who is converting to Orthodox Judaism, was asked to take off her NYC Cops & Kids windbreaker before she stepped onto the scale. She preferred to observe tzniut and keep it on but had to bow to the commission's demands. During her conversion journey, Barwick has been mindful to dress more modestly than in the past. She has been working with Rabbi Steinmetz and Rabbi Feldman at Kehilath Jeshurun on the Upper East Side in Manhattan through the process.

After the weigh-in, she downed some kosher Korean BBQ jerky from Holy Jerky and added hummus and pita. She consumed a liter and a half of water on the thirty minute ride back to her hotel where she ate a meal of salmon and steamed vegetables brought to her by the kosher concierge from the Santo Domingo Chabad.

After eating, she spoke to The Jewish Boxing Blog on the phone as she broke in her new light pink shoes courtesy of Adams Boxing. She sounded ready for the fight, charged by the disrespect shown from Novas and her team at the weigh-in and a tumultuous breakup last year.

A preview of Barwick-Novas can be viewed here. The fight can be streamed here.

David Malul Off Saturday's Card

Welterweight prospect David Malul had been scheduled to fight this Saturday at his old stomping grounds, the Paramount Theatre in Huntington, New York, USA. The Jewish Boxing Blog, however, has learned the 23 year old from Queens won't fight on the Star Boxing card.

Malul last fought in November, headlining a card he promoted. With a record of 4-0, Malul has been beset with relative inactivity recently. The devastating puncher fought three times from September 2024 to March 2025 but only one time since. He suffered a nose injury last summer which forced him off an August card in Long Island. He was slated to fight in Kansas last December, but that didn't pan out. Fortunately, this latest issue does not seem to be injury related.

Malul's team is looking to send him back in action either next month or in April. Since his last bout, "King" David has moved over to the Sosa Crew at NYC Cops and Kids.