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Sergey Kovalev to face Isaac Chilemba on July 11 in Russia

Fighters Network
23
Apr

LOS ANGELES — Main Events CEO Kathy Duva announced that Sergey Kovalev’s next fight will be against Isaac Chilemba on July 11, a Monday night, and take place Ekaterinburg, a major city in his native Russia (near his hometown Kopeysk).

The fight will take place on the opening night of the International Industry Trade Fair “INNOPROM-2016” at the DIVS Palace of Sports and is sponsored by Russian Copper Company and Igor Altushkin and presented by Main Events and Krusher Promotions in association with German Titov Promotions.

“I’m very excited that my next fight is happening almost in a my hometown,” Kovalev told members of the boxing media on Saturday during a roundtable interview at the Four Points by Sheraton. “A lot of people know of me in that city. My thanks to the Russian Copper Company that financed this show. Igor has made one of my dreams happen. I will try to show the best of my boxing against Isaac Chilemba.”

Kovalev (29-0-1, 26 knockouts), who holds the WBO, IBF and WBA 175-pound titles, is THE RING’s No. 1-rated light heavyweight. Chilemba (24-3-2, 10 KOs), who is coming off a 12-round majority decision loss to Eleider Alvarez (in a WBC-title elimination bout) last November, is THE RING’s No. 7-rated light heavyweight. The 28-year-old South African (by way of Malawi) has been considered a top contender for the past five years and is known for his durability and awkward style.



“He’s a very interesting opponent,” said Kovalev. “Chilemba is like a spoiler. It’s not an easy fight. He’s not fighting you directly, he’s more of a defensive boxer who moves and does wrestling-type moves. His style is uncomfortable for anybody and he’s never been stopped. It’s going to be my goal to solve this problem and stop him early, but we’ll see July 11.”

Kovalev is contracted to face former super middleweight champ Andre Ward in a major HBO Pay-Per-View event on Nov. 19 in either New York City or Las Vegas, but the Russian boxer-puncher says he is only focused on his July 11 date, in part because it’s a homecoming event.

“I’ve wanted this since I won my first belt (against Nathan Cleverly in Wales in August 2013) but we didn’t have the opportunity to do it,” he said. “We finally had the opportunity, thanks to the Russian Copper Company. All my family, my brothers, my sisters, my cousins, uncles and aunts, can all come and see me fight.”

Duva said HBO, which televises Kovalev’s fights in the U.S. is trying to figure out the logistics of airing the fight live in America (which would be Monday afternoon). The fight will be televised on Channel 1 in Russia.

“We’re going old school,” said Duva, “back in the day, all the big boxing events took place on Monday.”

Egis Klimas, Kovalev’s manager, said the Chilemba fight will be a major event in Russia, and added that the challenger is worthy of the opportunity.

“I think Isaac Chilemba deserves this, he’s one of the best light heavyweights in the division,” said Klimas. “Sergey wanted a real opponent and Isaac said, ‘Yes.’ It’s going to be a very big event and the date is perfect, it doesn’t clash with soccer, and it’s prime time on a Monday night when everybody is at home from work. I think we’re going to get a lot of viewers.”

Duva believes Chilemba will help Kovalev get ready for what most view as his biggest challenge.

“We think Isaac is great preparation for Sergey, a boxer, which is what Ward is,” she said. “He’s not the same style as Ward but he’s not somebody that Sergey can walk through, he’s a real contender.”

Kovalev was what he thought of Ward’s last fight, a unanimous decision over previously unbeaten Sullivan Barrera last month.

“I didn’t pay much attention to what he was doing (against Barrera),” said Kovalev, who was ringside in Oakland, California. “I was just watching to see how he moved. I haven’t studied him in that fight. I haven’t watched tape of the fight. I don’t do that. Boxing to me is like a street fight, but with rules.

“I thought I would see more from Ward but I understand that he had been out of the ring for 10 months. And Barrera is not an easy opponent. I’m sure Andre will look better and more dangerous in his next fight.”

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