Sergey Kovalev will return to Russia for July 11 title defense
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Unbeaten light-heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev will return to Russia for a homecoming bout July 11 before his anticipated fall showdown with undefeated former super-middleweight champion Andre Ward, Kovalev’s promoter, Kathy Duva, announced Saturday in Los Angeles.
Kovalev (29-0-1, 26 knockouts) will fight Isaac Chilemba (24-3-2, 10 KOs) in Ekaterinburg, Russia, site of an international trade fair that will coincide with the bout.
Holding the World Boxing Assn., International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Organization belts in his division, Kovalev, 33, hasn’t fought in Russia since Dec. 5, 2011, when his opponent, Roman Simakov, 27, suffered a seventh-round technical knockout loss in Ekaterinburg and later died of brain injuries from the bout.
Kovalev will train in Big Bear for the bout, returning to Russia after unifying three belts in 2014 by defeating Bernard Hopkins. In January, Kovalev beat Jean Pascal, who retired on his stool after seven rounds of a thorough beating.
“I am so excited to fight in my home country,” Kovalev said in a statement. “It gives me great pride to bring my titles home at last. Chilemba is a tough opponent, and I will be ready for him.”
Kovalev and Ward have struck an agreement with HBO for a fall pay-per-view bout. Ward, too, is seeking a summer interim bout.
Follow Lance Pugmire on Twitter @latimespugmire
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