Light heavyweights Maxim Vlasov (43-3 26KO) and Isaac Chilemba (25-6-2 10KO) are set to square off at the Central Square in Gelendzhi, Russia on July 20th. It's an interesting match-up that's easy to overlook in a fully loaded light heavyweight division, but the winner will likely find himself in the title hunt. Chilemba is a legit top 15 light heavyweight, possibly top ten depending on who you're talking to, he's already danced with a who's who of the upper echelon 175 pounders. Vlasov on the other hand, hasn't been able to get over the hump whenever the level of his opposition has gone up, though his three losses have come against world champions Krsysztof Glowacki, Gilberto Ramirez and the man who'll be across the ring from him in eleven days, Isaac Chilemba. 

 

Chilemba got the best of their 2011 encounter by unanimous decision, and has proven himself to be a tough out, as he's only gotten stopped once by current WBC light heavyweight champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk. Vlasov has yet to be stopped inside the distance, but Chilmeba may have to keep his foot on the gas and go for the knockout if he wants the victory, since the fight is taking place in Russia. It's more than likely that his best chance of taking a decision are slim and none and slim's left town.  (It's worth noting that Chilemba also dropped decisions to two other current world champion Sergey Kovalev and Dmitriy Bivol)