Kovalev to defend his titles against Chilemba in Russia

5:51 PM ET

LOS ANGELES — Unified light heavyweight world titleholder Sergey Kovalev is headed home to Russia to defend his three belts against Isaac Chilemba on July 11 at the DIVS Palace of Sports in Ekaterinburg, Russia, Main Events announced Saturday at a news conference.

The fight will only be Kovalev’s third in Russia. He has fought most of his career in the United States and lives in Los Angeles with his wife and son.

Kovalev, who will be making his eighth title defense, will be returning to the same arena where he fought the last time he had a fight in Russia, which ended in tragedy. He knocked out Roman Simakov in the seventh round in December 2011. Three days later, Simakov died as a result of injuries suffered in the bout, one Kovalev has been reticent to discuss.

But 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.”

The bout against Isaac Chilemba will be only the third time Sergey Kovalev fights in his native Russia. David Spagnolo/Main Events

Duva, CEO of Main Events and promoter of both fighters, said, “I’m so happy that we are finally able to bring Sergey back to Russia …

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