SERGEY KOVALEV TO FACE ISSAC CHILEMBA IN RUSSIA
By Victor O. Garcia, Real Combat Media Head Boxing Rankings Panelist
Los Angeles, CA (April 23rd, 2016)– Light heavyweight world titleholder Sergey Kovalev is headed to Russia to defend his three belts against Isaac Chilemba(24-3-2, 10 KOs), 28, a native of Malawi who fights out of South Africa on July 11 at the DIVS Palace of Sports in Ekaterinburg, Russia. Main Events announced Saturday at a news conference which Real Combat Media attended in Los Angeles.
If Kovalev gets past Chilemba it will set up an HBO showdown with undefeated Andre Ward in November if Ward defeats his next opponent. Ward has not announced his next fight.
Kovalev (29-0-1, 26 KOs) said he is happy to go home to defend his title in his first fight since a one-sided seventh-round knockout of former champion Jean Pascal in their rematch on Jan. 30 in Pascal’s hometown of Montreal.
“I am so excited to fight in my home country of Russia. It gives me great pride to bring my titles home at last,” Kovalev said. “I would like to thank my manager, Egis Klimas, my promoter, Kathy Duva and Igor Altushkin, of Russian Copper Company, for making this dream of mine a reality. Chilemba is a tough opponent and I will be ready for him on July 11.”
Said Duva, CEO of Main Events and promoter of both fighters, “I’m so happy that we are finally able to bring Sergey back to Russia to defend his titles in his home country for the first time.”
“This is no easy fight for Sergey though,” Duva said. “Sergey wanted a challenging opponent for his return to Russia and someone who would help him prepare for Andre Ward in November, assuming he emerges with a win.”
Chilemba is coming off a debatable majority decision loss to Eleider Alvarez in November in world title eliminator on Alvarez’s home town.
“I thank Main Events for yet another opportunity for me to redeem myself and I thank my trainer Buddy McGirt for believing in me,” Chilemba said. “I have met a lot of obstacles and every time I think I’ve got it right, I fall again, but I know my goals and I never stop following my dreams. When I received a call from (manager) Jodi (Solomon) regarding this opportunity, I was over the moon.
“I thank Sergey and his team for putting their titles on the line to face me. All I want to say to them is they are in for a surprise. They gave the wrong guy an opportunity. I’ll work my ass off and I’m in to win it. Russia here we come!”
Said Duva, “Isaac Chilemba has the right style and came ‘this close’ to becoming the WBC mandatory contender (for champion Adonis Stevenson). We, and many observers, thought that the scorecards easily could have gone his way (against Alvarez). Fortunately, we are in a position to give Isaac his world title fight and the opportunity to become a unified world champion. This is a perfect situation for all involved and I can’t wait to go to Russia.”
The fight will be televised live in Russia on Channel One but American television coverage has been not finalized. HBO has not decided yet if it will cover this fight which is scheduled to be shown on a Monday in the US
“Broadcasting sports events live from certain regions of Russia can be a challenge,” Duva said. “HBO Sports is exploring carrying the event in the U.S. It’s too early to be definitive. We know they love Sergey.”
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