Lenar Perez vs Isaac Chilemba Preview March 5th, 2026
Unbeaten Lenar Perez of Cuba will be meeting Isaac Chilemba of Malawi for the WBC Continental Americas Cruiserweight Title this Thursday, March 5th. The 10-round bout from the Montreal Casino in Quebec, Canada can be seen live on DAZN and punchinggrace.com. Chilemba’s last outing was in May, 2024 when he was stopped by Aleksei Papin in the second round for his third loss in his last four outings. In fact, his record is 3-8-1 in his last dozen fights. Perez last stepped into the ring in April when he beat Eleksei Egorov by a 10-round split decision for the vacant IBA Pro Inter-Continental Cruiserweight Crown.
Perez vs Chilemba Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Isaac Chilemba +1600
- Lenar Perez -6600
My Pick
The 28-year-old Perez was born in Cuba and now fights out of Russia. He had an excellent amateur career as he was a two-time Under-19 Cuban National Champion and placed third at the 2017 Cuban Championships. He turned pro in 2014 and has boxed 61 rounds since with a current perfect record of 15-0 with 14 Ko’s. He’s certainly known for his power with a knockout ratio of 93.3 per cent. He’s gone the distance just once as a pro and that was in his last outing, which was a 10-round split nod over Eleksei Egorov.
However it should be noted that just his last seven opponents entered the ring with a winning record and he’s never fought a contender or outside of Europe. Perez measures 6-feet-5-inches tall so has great size for a cruiserweight by unfortunately there’s no information available for his reach. He’s fought his entire pro career as a cruiserweight though. Perez possesses size, skills and power but willo be stepping up in class against Chilemba.
As for Chilemba, he’s now 38 years old and fights out of South Africa. He makes the ring walk with a mark of 27-10-3 with 11 Ko’ and has been inactive for almost two years. Chilemba is known for his aggressive style and his chin even though he’s been stopped a couple of times. His first stoppage was due to a broken hand he suffered against Oleksandr Gvozdyk in November, 2016 and he was halted by Aleksei Papin in two rounds in his last contest.
Chilemba used to be an exciting fighter even though he lacks power as just 40.7 per cent of his wins have come by stoppage with the last one coming in 2022 when he halted Mbaruku Kheri in the second round. He has a fan-friendly style, a lot of endurance and doesn’t mind mixing it up when he has to but is definitely in the twilight of his career now. He likes to use the jab and is an accurate puncher, but his lack of power means his fights usually go the distance.
At 6-feet-2-inches tall with a 74-inch reach, he gives up three inches in height to Perez. Chilemba has plenty of experience though as he’s boxed 324 rounds since turning pro in 2005. He’s been beaten on points by Willbeforce Shihep in 2007, Tony Bellew in 2013, Eleider Alvarez in 2015, Sergey Kovalev in 2016, Dmitrii Bivol in 2018, Maxim Vlasov in 2018 Pavel Silyagin in 2021 and Osleys Igelsias in 2022. He also drew with Thomas Oosthuizen in 2010, Tony Bellew in 2013 and Fedor Chudinov in 2021. Chilemba has fought for several regional super middleweight and light heavyweight belts as a pro and this will be just his second fight as a cruiserweight.
He also fought for world titles in 2017 when Sergey Kovalev beat him and in 201i8 against Bivol. Chilemba’s biggest wins have been over Blake Caparello, Edison Miranda, Vasily Lepikhin and Denis Grachev. He’s fallen slightly short whenever stepping up in class, but has won the NABF, WBC International, African Boxing Union and WBO Africa Light Heavyweight Titles during his career as well as the IBO World and African Boxing Union Super Middleweight belts. He’s as tough as nails and quite underrated with fine footwork and counterpunching skills.
Prediction…
Chilemba has won just three of his last 12 fights and has been out of the ring for close to two years. He comes in second best to Perez in size, power and skills but does have a wide edge in experience. I’m expecting Perez to try and break Chilemba down with punishing shots and while it may take a few rounds to do so, I believe Perez will eventually stop him.
Chilemba’s as tough as nails, but Perez should eventually halt him.
Play: Perez -6600 @ BetOnline.ag
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Isaac Chilemba betting • Lenar Perez betting