Isaac "Golden Boy" Chilemba (24-2-2, 10 KOs) has accepted the WBC elimination fight to face Eleider "Storm" Alvarez (18-0, 10 KOs) for the right to be the mandatory challenger to fight Adonis Stevenson. Chilemba had this to say about accepting the challenge, which Alvarez's manager has already accepted on his behalf:
"I'm very happy that he accepted that challenge. I'm not taking Alvarez lightly, he is a good fighter all round. I know he wants to be a champion himself, unfortunately not this time as this is my time. By the time we meet, I'll be 100% ready and, even though my mind is fully focused on the present opportunity, it brings me closer to that WBC championship I have been working so hard to get to."