Isaac Chilemba and Lenar Perez Make Weight

Issac Chilemba and Lenar Perez both weighed in under the 200-pound cruiserweight limit ahead of their clash tomorrow at the Montreal Casino in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Chilemba (27-10-3, 11 KOs) came in at 191.5 pounds. This is the heaviest weight of his 21-year pro career by over three pounds. This is only the third time Isaac has come in over the light heavyweight division's limit of 175 pounds. He was 184.3 pounds in his last fight back in 2024, a second round stoppage loss to Aleksei Papin who boasted a 15-pound advantage over Chilemba. Isaac was 188.3 in a 2019 stay-busy fight. Chilemba has primarily vacillated between the super middleweight and light heavyweight divisions.

Perez (15-0, 14 KOs) is ten years younger than Chilemba and weighed seven and half pounds heavier. His weight of 199 pounds is firmly in the middle of his range. Perez has consistently hovered around the cruiserweight limit. His lightest was 196.3 pounds in 2022. His heaviest was 205 for two separate fights in 2019.

This bout is scheduled for ten rounds and can be seen on DAZN. For a preview, visit here.

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.