HBO Sports returns to Russia for the first time since 2013 to present world light heavyweight champ Sergey Kovalev’s title defense against challenger Isaac Chilemba when the fight is presented in the United States on MONDAY, JULY 11 at 10:15 p.m. ET/PT (same day tape-delayed) from the DIVS Arena in Ekaterinburg, Russia, exclusively on HBO.

In his first fight in Russia since 2011, Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (29-0-1, 26 KOs) defends his light heavyweight title for the ninth time when he faces Malawi’s Isaac Chilemba (24-3-2, 10 KOs) in a bout scheduled for 12 rounds. Kovalev, 33, has emerged as one of the sport’s most feared punchers defeating many of the best fighters in the light heavyweight division including Bernard Hopkins and Jean Pascal. He is ranked as one of the sport’s top pound-for-pound performers. Chilemba, 28, has never been stopped in his 29 professional bouts and will look to use his ring savvy to emerge victorious in his first career world title opportunity.

Kovalev vs. Chilemba will be televised from the DIVS Arena in Ekaterinburg, Russia, on Monday, July 11 at 10:15 p.m. ET/PT, capping off an exciting weekend of international boxing on HBO which begins on Saturday, July 9 live at 5:00 p.m. ET/PT when world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury squares off with former titlist Wladimir Klitschko in Manchester, England.

Isaac Chilemba, WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight Challenger

“I want to thank Main Events for making this fight possible. Thanks to Sergey Kovalev for giving me this challenge.”

On Kovalev’s Recent Opponents
“I believe Kovalev he is a hard-working fighter. There is no such thing as an easy fight. I believe Kovalev worked hard to get where he is. I don’t think he would say any of his opponents weren’t tough. He has never fought me or someone like him though. This will be a very different fight for Kovalev.”

About Kovalev’s Last Fight in Russia
“Whatever happened at that time is not what’s going to happen now. The pressure is on Kovalev. He will be fighting in his hometown where he hasn’t fought in a long time. My focus is on him. My mind is on him only.”

On Isaac’s Recent Controversial Loss to Eleider Alvarez
“I have gained a lot experience from a lot of hard-fought fights in hometowns of my opponents. I am working on Kovalev. I am going to give him hell and not leave it in the judges’ hands. Everyone expects it to be an easy fight for him. I have come short fighting for the WBC Title but maybe this is where I was meant to be. I want to thank everyone who helped make this happen. I will put it all out there to make sure I get the decision.

“I was disappointed after my fight with Alvarez. When I got the call that this fight was offered you can’t believe the joy that came over me. I knew I would get another chance to fight a tough opponent. I have been praying hard and I thank God that I finally got the opportunity.”

On Fighting in Kovalev’s Home Country
“I believe the pressure is on him. He is fighting at home. He needs to show his home people what he is made of. I am happy to go to fight anyone, anywhere, in their backyard, in their own house I don’t care. I will give a show. I am gunning for a win. I don’t care where we are fighting. I don’t care what Kovalev is made of. We know his weaknesses and we know his strengths. I am going to beat him in his own town.”

On Receiving the Offer to Fight Kovalev
“I was filled with joy. I am truly excited about it. I deserve it. I am very happy that I got this opportunity.”

On Training Camp for This Fight
“Buddy is coming to me. South Africa is the best place where we can train. We are going to go old style for this fight.”

On His Confidence Regarding this Fight
“I believe in myself. I believe in my abilities as a fighter. Coming in I am not worried about anything else. Every mistake I have made in my personal life and my boxing life has made me stronger. I am confident. I trust my team and Buddy. I will be ready. I am where I am meant to be. I believe this is where I am going to show the world who I am and what I am made of. Kovalev is not invincible, he is not God, he is a man just like me. I will be the man to crush the Krusher.

“I believe I am the antidote to Kovalev. I am walking into this fight with only a few people believing in me. I am going to show the world. We are going to do what Kovalev, and no one else in the world, has ever seen. It isn’t anything hard on me. The pressure is on him. I love proving people wrong. That pushes me.”

Kathy Duva, CEO of Main Events

“We are delighted that not only will Sergey get his chance to fight in Russia, but Isaac will get the title shot that he has wanted ever since we have known him. That is what this sport is about. This makes for an entertaining evening for everyone. Hopefully you will see us on July 11. We will find a way for people to see it. Hopefully we can get an HBO quality broadcast out there. That is what we are working on.”

On Making This Fight
“I think we called Isaac on Monday and his team responded on Tuesday. The contract was signed by Friday. Isaac very much wanted his title shot. He did everything we ever asked him to do. Our feeling that Isaac was deserving and the perfect fight for Sergey. Sergey needs to fight a boxer to prepare for Ward. Isaac is a tremendous boxer. If you look at the way he took apart [Vasily] Lepikhin, it was surgical the way he did it. I am fortunate that both fighters wanted the biggest challenge they could get at that moment. It was hard to find the right partners in Russia to make this fight happen. Once we found them everything else fell together so easily. Once we had all the pieces in place it came together easily.”

On Promoting Both Fighters
“My job is to make good fights, get good opportunities for my fighters. Isaac deserves a title fight. There are lot of fighters who avoid risk to keep their records intact. There was a never a question of who they would they fight. We don’t sign people here at Main Events who don’t want to fight.

“When I suggest fighters that don’t test Sergey, he gets annoyed. He is preparing to face Ward in the fall. He wants to be challenged.”

On Isaac’s Controversial Decision Against Alvarez
“How could a bad decision hold you back? Isaac is an extraordinary fighter.”

On the Other Opponents Considered Before Chilemba
“As I do every time, I talked to Adonis Stevenson’s people and after some debate they turned it down again. Alvarez’s people approached me about doing the fight in Canada in June but, of course, in the end Alvarez’s people did not follow through so we decided to make the fight in Russia.”

James “Buddy” McGirt, Chilemba’s Trainer

On Isaac’s Keys to Victory
“The key to victory is to box. You need to mix stuff up a little. I don’t see Kovalev as just a puncher. He can fight. We have to focus on his fighting ability as well. Isaac can fight as well. We need to have more than one game plan and stick to the one that works to emerge victorious.

“Kovalev is home so the pressure is on him, not us on. He has to impress his fans back home and we need to upset the applecart.”

On This Opportunity for Isaac
“After Isaac’s last fight what I thought he got the decision or the draw. If you look at the light heavyweight division who else out is out there for Sergey? Adonis [Stevenson] isn’t going to fight Kovalev. You have to give the Chilemba the title fight. Sometimes a loss can do more for you than the win, that’s boxing. Good things come to those who wait. I believe Kathy and Kovalev believe Isaac deserves this fight and I thank them. Kathy knows what she is looking at when she sees Isaac.”

On Isaac’s Chances Against Kovalev
“I see a guy that has all the tools. If not, he would not be as successful as he has been. He has all the tools to upset the applecart. And for 12 rounds on July 11 we are going to give him hell. The key is to keep boxing and stay busy, don’t worry about the power. That’s when you have a problem. We are going to be prepared for anything and everything. Kovalev is a hell of a fighter. He isn’t a one-dimensional guy so we can’t be one-dimensional either. We have to be prepared for everything and we will be.”

On Sergey’s Recent Opponents
“I am a firm believer you know a good fighter when you see him. There wasn’t anyone for Larry Holmes to fight but he was still a hell of a fighter. So is Isaac Chilemba. Isaac can pretty much be Isaac and that will have him be successful. You can’t focus on Sergey’s power. He just needs to be Isaac.”

Jodi Solomon, Chilemba’s Manager

“Thanks to Main Events for the opportunity. Thanks to Sergey Kovalev and his team for this opportunity as well.”

James DeGale defended his IBF Super Middleweight World Championship in a thriller over hometown favorite and former champion Lucian Bute on Saturday in the main event of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING.

It was the first title defense for DeGale, the 2008 Olympic gold medalist from Britain who went on the road to Boston to win the title earlier this year and chose to defend in hostile territory.

Bute, who was attempting to win back the IBF belt he defended nine times between 2007 and 2012, put on an inspired and gutsy performance in an electric atmosphere to open the new Videotron Centre in Quebec City.  But the unbelievable pace, as well as an arsenal of overhand rights, body shots and combos from the younger DeGale (22-1, 14 KOs) proved to be the difference as DeGale prevailed 116-112, 117-111 (twice).

“I’m young and I’m fresh. I’m peaking right now,” DeGale said.  “I’m ready for the best in the world. Credit to Bute – he’s a great champion and believe me, he will be back.”

“Like I’ve said in the past, he is a world-class fighter. I’ve still got things to work on in the next three or four years and I’m going to be my best.”

Bute (32-3, 25 KOs) didn’t look anything like the fighter that lost to Carl Froch in 2012.  But while the 35-year-old stalked the switch-hitting DeGale with a relentless attack, he couldn’t do enough to overpower the supremely active Brit, who threw 524 power punches compared to 278 for Bute.

“I think it was a great fight.  I did my best tonight,” Bute said.  “I think it was a close fight.  He’s an Olympic champion, he’s a world champion.  If the judges give him the decision I respect that. I’ll be back in the gym to work hard and continue to fight.  I think it was a very close fight.  I’m happy with my performance and I’ll be back in the gym to get back in the ring one more time.

“The last three years were difficult for me.  After I lost to Carl Froch that was a very difficult period for me.  I took a break, and now I’m back.  I feel great, I feel healthy and now I have one more chance to be back on the top.

“Maybe a few rounds I waited too much and didn’t put the punches together and I let James fight me.  When I pushed pressure and pushed back I won the round.”

Eleider Alvarez earned a title shot at Adonis Stevenson by winning a 12-round majority decision over Isaac Chilemba in a Light Heavyweight bout.

Alvarez of Montreal won by scores of 118-110, 115-113 and 114-14 and is now 19-0.  Chilemba is 24-3-2.

“I knew I had to finish the later rounds strong, but I believe I did enough to win the fight,” Alvarez said.  “I’m ready to accept the challenge and face Stevenson. To be the world champion, you have to beat the champion. So that’s what I aim to do.”

“I thought I did enough to win it,” Chilemba said.  “But it is what it is. I guess you can call it a hometown decision.”

After the fight, SHOWTIME Sports host Brian Custer sat down with Stevenson to get his thoughts on Alvarez-Chilemba and his future.

“It was a close physical fight,” Stevenson said.  “He (Alvarez) won this fight but it was very close.”

“We talk about Kovalev because the WBC still ranks him the No. 1 contender.  I want this fight to happen.  The fans want it to happen.  I said June is perfect for me.  He said ‘OK, June,’ Kathy Duva said ‘No problem, June.’  Then she said on HBO.  I said, ‘Forget about the TVs, let them talk.’  We want the fight to happen.  Let the TVs work together and make it happen.

“I want to fight Kovalev.  That’s the best opportunity for me because I want his titles.  For sure, this fight will happen in June.  I don’t have a problem; my team doesn’t have a problem.  I want this fight in June.

Kovalev is scared.  I talked to him, saw it in his eyes that he’s scared of me.  It will happen, but I know Kovalev is scared.  I want Kovalev.  I’m very hungry to get his titles.”

Adrian Granados foiled the title hopes of previously undefeated Amir Imam by shaking off a 1st round knockdown to come back to win an 8th rounds stoppage in a scheduled 10-round Super Lightweight bout.

Imam dropped Granados with a powerful left hook in round one.  Granados didn’t seemed to fazed after that as he started to land sharp hard combinations and started to push Imam back.  In round seven, Imam was bleeding from his nose and seemed to be wearing down.  That seemed to be true as in round eight, Granados landed a hard combination that rocked his head back and the fight was stopped at 2:34 of round eight.

Granados of Cicero, IL is now 17-4-1 with 12 knockouts.  Imam, who had a mandatory title shot with Viktor Postol is now 18-1.

“It feels great. Once I had him wobbled I was like, ‘you’ve got to get him now. This time you’re not taking it from me.’  It was a flash knockdown. He caught with the right hand, but I was alright. I just popped right up and I knew he was going to try and finish me. We got out of it and went right back to work.”

“I know people might say I shouldn’t have taken this fight, but I needed this fight in between as a tune-up for my next fight because I didn’t want to wait for the six to eight months for the world title shot.

“The key to the fight was my jab, I just didn’t use it enough,” Imam said.  “But that’s the way it goes and I’m going to definitely come back stronger. I wasn’t thinking anything after that first-round knockdown.  I’ve done that many times and didn’t think the fight was over.  I wasn’t surprised at all by the way he came out. I know how he fights. He’s a good fighter and that’s all there is to it.”

Former Colombian Olympian Oscar Rivas scored a 2nd round stoppage over Joey Abell in a 10-round Heavyweight bout.

In round two, Rivas landed a combination on the ropes that set up two flush lefts that slumped Abell on the ropes and a follow up right drilled a prone Abell at 46 seconds of round two.

Rivas of Montreal is 18-0 with 13 knockouts.  Abell of Coon Rapids, MN is 31-9.

Follow all the action from Quebec City, Canada when James DeGale defends the IBF Super Middleweight title against former world champion Lucian Bute.  The action begins at 9 PM ET / 6 PM PT  that will feature a Light Heavyweight elimination bout between Isaac Chilemba and Eleider Alvarez-AUTOMATIC BROWSER REFRESH

Round 1 DeGale lands an over hand left

Round 2 Bute lands a body shot..body shot..DeGale counters..Good body shot..left..body shot..shot to head

Round 3 Nice jab from DeGale..Bute lands an uppercut…Good exchange in the middle of the ring

Round 4 Right from Bute..Counter left from DeGale..Cuffing left and uppercut..Left from Bute..left..

Round 5 DeGale cut around his right eye..Bute lands a right hook…Right uppercut from DeGale..

Round 6 Cut caused by accidental headbutt..Jab from Bute..left from DeGale..left uppercut..3 rights..right hook..

Round 7 Right uppercut from DeGale..hard right..right..Left to body from Bute..Jab from DeGale..Body work..jab..Bute lands a left..

Round 8 Trading jabs…Right hook from DeGale..Nice left-right..right…

Round 9 Bute trying to work the body..right to body from DeGale..short right..nice body work..body ..counter right from Bute..

Round 10 Degale lands a combination..Right uppercut…good body work..up-jab..Left From Bute..Good Counter from deGale

Round 11 Nice Jab from DeGale..Straight left from Bute..Left from DeGale..Left from Bute…

Round 12 Trading jabs..body work from DeGale..big over hand left from DeGale..right..

116-112, 117-111, 117-111 JAMES DEGALE

Round 1 Good right from Alvarez…2 nice jabs

Round 2 Alvarez lands a right..Jab from Chilemba..Trading right hands

Round 3

Round 4 Left from Alvarez..Left..Jab..Combination

Round 5 Alvarez working the body..Chilemba lands a counter left hook..Flurry from Alvarez

Round 6 Right from Alvarez..Jab..Right..Chilemba lands a jab…Combination to body

ROUND 7 Right from Chilemba..Counter right from Alvarez…Jab from Chilemba..Jab..left hook..Alvarez wokding the body..Exchnage jabs…Counter right from Chilemba

Round 8

118-110, 115-113 Alvarex…114-114

Round 1 Granados lands a left and left to body…Imam lands a left and a jab…HUGE RIGHT AND DOWN GOES GRANADOS…Big right..Right to head..left to body..left and right…Granados in trouble..Counter right from Imam..Right from Granados

Round 2 Right from Granados…4 punch combination..4 jabs from Imam..Good right

Round 3 Uppercut from Imam..2 rights from Granados…Good body shot with the left from Imam..Sharp right..Chopping right

Round 4 Right and left from Granados. Combination from Imam…4 punch combination from Granados..3 punch combination..2 rights from Imam…

Round 5 4 Punch combination from Imam..2 punch combination..Granados working..Body from Imam..Head shot from Granados..right from Imam..Granados lands a right that backs Imam up..left from Granados..

Round 6 Combination from Granados..6 punch combination and a uppercut…Hard 1-2…Good left..Good counter right from Imam..combination…5 punch combination from Granados

Round 7 3 rights from Granados…Left to body from Imam..Left from Granados..Good combination..Blood on the face of Imam..Left from Granados..

Round 8 Granados lands a right…Imam looks tired….BIG COMBINATION ON THE ROPES…AND THE FIGHT IS STOPPED

Round 1 Abell lands a left to the head..Right to body from Rivas..Counter left from Abell

Round 2 Left and right from Rivas…Hard combination AND A RIGHT AND DOWN GOES ABELL AND THE FIGHT IS OVER

QUEBEC CITY, Canada (Nov. 25, 2015) – Boldly predicting at least a sixth-round finish against hometown favorite Lucian Bute, a confident James DeGale held his IBF Super Middleweight World Championship belt high over his head during the main event press conference in advance of Saturday’s SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING event.

“Gonna be six rounds, but it may be three,” DeGale repeated over and over as the fighters concluded their final shots for a packed room of media members on Wednesday at the Le Bonne Entente Hotel. DeGale (21-1, 14 KOs), from London, England, defends against the popular former 168-pound world champion Bute (32-2, 25 KOs), of Montreal, this Saturday from the Vidéotron Centre in Quebec City, live on SHOWTIME at 11 p.m. ET/PT.

Also participating in the press conference were the two top ranked light heavyweights facing off in the co-feature. WBC’s No. 1-ranked 175-pound fighter Isaac Chilemba (24-2-2, 10 KOs), of Montreal, meets unbeaten, No. 2-ranked Eleider Alvarez (18-0, 10 KOs), of Johannesburg, South Africa, in a light heavyweight world title eliminator. The winner earns the right to become the mandatory challenger for WBC Light Heavyweight World Champion Adonis Stevenson, who is expected to be in attendance on Saturday night.

NOTE: A new opponent was announced on Wednesday for heavyweight Oscar Rivas (17-0, 12 KOs), of Montreal. Joey Abell (31-8, 29 KOs), of Champlin, Minn., will square off with the undefeated heavyweight in the 10-round opening bout of SHOWTIME BOXING on SHO EXTREME.

Here is what the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING participants had to say on Wednesday:

JAMES DeGALE

“It’s on – fight time is finally here. I feel like a beast.

“They think it’s going to be a boxing match, but it will be a destruction. It will be explosive. Three rounds – place your bets. Trust me.

“I fought the best super middleweight southpaw out there in Andre Dirrell and look what I did to him. Once he feels my power that will be it. I’m going to start fast and throw loads of punches.

“I watched him against Carl Froch, watched him against (Librado) Andrade. He’s great in the center of the ring, but I’m not going to stand there. It won’t be a chess match. I’ll start fast and we’ll see how he takes it.

“Carl exposed him and I’ll finish him. But I don’t care about Carl Froch – he’s old. I’m the new champion. If he wants this belt, he’ll have to come get it.

“I’m an old school fighter – I don’t mind travelling to fight in my opponents’ hometown.

“He was a great champion who has fought some great fighters so I should get kudos when I beat him.”

LUCIAN BUTE

“It’s a great opportunity to fight for my old belt in front of my hometown fans. I think they’ll push me toward the victory. I’m looking forward to becoming world champion again.

“I think he’s the best super middleweight in the world right now, but I’m very confident in myself.

“I had a great camp. I’m just ready to become world champion again.

“I’m healthy, I feel great physically. I have the power to knock him out and the skills to box him.

“Now I have a chance to take back my belt against another English fighter.”

JIM McDONNELL, DeGale’s Trainer

“I’ve tried to come back and do what Lucian has done and it’s not easy. Tune in on Saturday night because what I’ve got is special, and you’ll enjoy what you see.

“It’s tough to win your world title back. I respect Lucian for trying, but James is a world class fighter. He’s ready for everything.”

HOWARD GRANT, Bute’s Trainer

“We did everything we had to do. Lucian is 100 percent prepared to surprise everyone on Saturday. Lucian knows what wearing that belt is all about – he wore it for about five years and he’s coming on Saturday to take it back to where it belongs.”

ELEIDER ALVAREZ

“This is my chance right now. I’m hungry and I’ve done everything I had to do to have the best camp possible for this fight. I’m facing a very intelligent boxer who is technically excellent. But I’ve always said that if I don’t face the best, then I will stay an ordinary boxer. So I must face the best, to be the best.

“When I wake up on Sunday morning, I’m going to be the mandatory challenger for the title.”

ISAAC CHILEMBA

“I had a great camp in Burbank, Calif., training there for six or seven weeks. I believe I should have a shot at Stevenson, and if this is what it takes to get there I will do whatever possible to make it happen. I’m up for the challenge.

“I’m fighting a good fighter and he’s undefeated for a reason. But I’m here to prove that I’m the best light heavyweight in the world. I will put on a good show on Saturday night and everyone will see.

“I have a lot of trials in my life, but I think that’s what makes me stronger and has made me what I am today. I don’t look back on what has happened and I appreciate what life has given me.

“He is a great fighter and I know it won’t be an easy fight. But I’ve put in the work and I’m ready.”

MARC RAMSAY, Alvarez’s Trainer

“This is the major leagues right now. These two are the best light heavyweights in the world. I’ve had the chance to work with Isaac because he has sparred in Montreal with Artur Beterbiev for two weeks. So I know him well. He’s a very complete and complex boxer. But I full trust my fighter to win this fight. It’s his chance.”

BUDDY McGIRT, Chilemba’s Trainer

“I just want to say it’s great to be a part of this event. Mr. DeGale is the champion and he’s coming to Mr. Bute’s country to fight him. That’s what boxing needs. It needs more fights like this to keep it on the rise.

“As far as our fight goes with Mr. Alvarez, I believe that besides (Sergey) Kovalev, these two are the best light heavyweights in the world. And I think they should be fighting for the title and not an eliminator to see who fights the champion.”

# # #

The event, billed as “THE RECLAMATION”, is a presentation of Vidéotron in collaboration with Mise-O-Jeu. Tickets are on sale at the Vidéotron Centre box office, on www.ticketmaster.ca, at GYM (514) 383-0666, at InterBox (450) 645-1077 or at Champion boxing club (514) 376-0980.

@butelucian, @jamesdegale1, @yvonmichelGYM, @interboxca, @stormalvarez, @SHOsports,

Quebec City, Quebec, Canada: This Saturday, Isaac “Golden Boy” Chilemba (24-2-2, 10 KOs) will take on Eleider “Storm” Alvarez (18-0, 10 KOs) for the mandatory position in the WBC at Centre Videotron in Quebec City, Quebec; the winner will challenge Adonis “Superman” Stevenson for the WBC Light Heavyweight World Title in 2016.

Chilemba, 28, was born in Blantyre, Malawi one of the poorest regions in the world. He moved to Johannesburg, South Africa in 2004 to pursue a professional boxing career. Over the last ten years since his professional debut, Isaac has very quietly climbed the ranks of the light heavyweight division. Earlier this year, he defeated fellow Main Events’ stablemate Vasily “The Professor” Lepikhin in the opening bout of the Kovalev-Pascal telecast on HBO World Championship Boxing to become the WBC’s #1 ranked light heavyweight.

Lepikhin and Chilemba
Photo Credits: David Spagnolo/Main Events

Now, after more than a decade as a professional, Isaac is one fight away from achieving his dream fighting for a world championship belt. The only thing standing in his way is undefeated contender Eleider “Storm” Alvarez. Alvarez, 31, is originally from Apartado, Colombia but now resides in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Chilemba knows he is marching into enemy territory, fighting in his opponent’s hometown, but he remains unfazed. He said, “It really doesn’t matter where I fight. I don’t mind having no fans in the crowd but, hopefully by the end of the fight, there will be fans that cheer for me. I am just there to do my job. I hope everybody here in the US and Canada watching live and back at home in Malawi and South Africa will get to see a good fight.”

Chilemba admittedly knows little about his opponent and his trainer, former welterweight world champion James “Buddy” McGirt, warns against focusing too hard on the other guy. He said, “I have watched him. I study guys but I try not to watch too much. Sometimes you have a tendency to study a guy too much and you realize he does something but then he doesn’t do that one thing and you are thrown. So I watched him but we are going to be prepared for anything and everything.”

McGirt and Chilemba In the Corner
Photo Credits: David Spagnolo/Main Events

Isaac and Buddy acknowledge that this fight is part of a much bigger picture, which is to challenge Stevenson for the WBC Light Heavyweight World Title. However, for now, their focus is on the task at hand – Alvarez. Chilemba explained, “As much as the goal is to get to Stevenson, right now the truth is my mind is on Alvarez. I have to get through this but after that we will be talking about Stevenson. I am just concentrating on one target for now but as soon as that is over then we are talking about the next target, Stevenson.”

McGirt continued, “The way I see it, Alvarez is the only thing getting in our way of the championship. Our job is to do what we have to do to get him out of the way.” Isaac’s manager, Jodi Solomon, added, “Isaac has worked very hard to get this opportunity. He is in excellent hands with Buddy McGirt and I believe he will do what needs to be done and we can move on to the next step.”

Kathy Duva, CEO of Main Events, Chilemba’s promoter, said, “Isaac has worked so hard for this opportunity. We know this fight will be a tough battle and it’s no easy task to defeat your opponent in his backyard, but I believe in Isaac and his team. He’s been a road warrior for most of his career and I think all of that hard won experience will pay off in Quebec City on November 28th.”

FOLLOW US:
www.mainevents.com
Twitter: @main_events
Facebook: facebook.com/MainEventsBoxing
Twitter: twitter.com/Isaac_Chilemba
Facebook: facebook.com/Isaac-Chilemba/172773612836036

NEW YORK (Nov. 10, 2015) –WBC No. 1 ranked super lightweight Amir Imam (18-0, 15 KOs) returns to face Adrian Granados (14-4-2, 11 KOs) in a 10-round bout on Saturday, Nov. 28 on SHOWTIME BOXING on SHO EXTREME.

The undefeated Imam is the mandatory challenger to WBC 140-pound champion Viktor Postol, who won the vacant title with a 10th round TKO of Lucas Matthysse in October.

The SHOWTIME BOXING on SHO EXTREME telecast begins live at 9 p.m. ET/PT from the Vidéotron Centre in Quebec City prior to that evening’s SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast. In the SHO EXTREME opener, undefeated heavyweight and former international star Oscar Rivas (17-0, 12 KOs) will face Curtis Harper (12-4, 8 KOs) in a 10-round bout.

IBF Super Middleweight World Champion James DeGale (21-1, 14 KOs) will defend his belt against former 168-pound champ Lucian Bute (32-2, 25 KOs) in the main event of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® live on SHOWTIME® (11 p.m. ET/PT).

In the co-feature, the WBC’s No. 1-ranked 175-pound fighter Isaac Chilemba (24-2-2, 10 KOs) will square off with No. 2-ranked Eleider Alvarez (18-0, 10 KOs) in a light heavyweight world title eliminator. The winner earns the right to become the mandatory challenger for WBC Light Heavyweight World Champion Adonis Stevenson.

The event, billed as “THE RECLAMATION”, is a presentation of Vidéotron in collaboration with Mise-O-Jeu.

One of boxing’s fastest-rising contenders, the 25-year-old Imam has knocked out 15 of his 18 professional opponents since turning pro in 2011. The Albany, N.Y., native is coming off a fourth-round knockout of former world title challenger Fernando Angulo on July 18 on SHOWTIME.

The 26-year-old Granados, of Chicago, has won three fights in a row since a close, split decision loss to undefeated welterweight prospect Brad Solomon on the undercard of the Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao PPV last May 2 in Las Vegas. Granados’ only other defeat since 2011 was a majority decision loss to then-undefeated Felix Diaz in 2014. Granados, who holds a draw against former welterweight world champion Kermit Cintron, will move back down to 140 pounds for his bout with Imam.

The Montreal-based Rivas represented Colombia in the 2008 Olympic Games. The 28-year-old is coming off a three-knockdown, first-round TKO of Jason Pettaway on July 26 in his U.S. debut on ShoBox: The New Generation. Rivas returns to the province of Quebec, site of 16 of his 17 bouts, against the 27-year-old Harper, who is 5-1 in his last six fights.

Harper, of Jacksonville, Fla., is coming off a close decision loss to long-time heavyweight contender Chris Arreola on March 13. Harper was knocked down in the first round against Arreola but rallied in an entertaining slugfest.

Tickets are on sale at the Vidéotron Centre box office, on www.ticketmaster.ca, at GYM (514) 383-0666, at InterBox (450) 645-1077 or at Champion boxing club (514) 376-0980.

@butelucian, @jamesdegale1, @yvonmichelGYM, @interboxca, @stormalvarez, @SHOsports,

NEW YORK (Oct. 8, 2015) – Super middleweight world champion James DeGale (21-1, 14 KOs), of England, and former world champion Lucian Bute (32-2, 25 KOs), of Montreal, completed a two-city, two-country kickoff press conference Thursday in London to formally announce their Nov. 28 showdown in the main event of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® live on SHOWTIME from the Vidéotron Centre of Quebec City. There also was a press conference Tuesday in Quebec City.

The event, billed as “THE RECLAMATION”, is a presentation of Vidéotron in collaboration with Mise-O-Jeu.

In the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING co-feature, No. 2 IBF light heavyweight Artur Beterbiev (9-0, 9 KOs), a former two-time Russian Olympian living in Montreal, will face an opponent to be announced.

SHOWTIME Sports® will also televise the light heavyweight world title eliminator between the WBC’s No. 1-ranked 175 pound fighter Isaac Chilemba (24-2-2, 10 KOs), of Malawi, and No. 2-ranked Eleider Alvarez (18-0, 10 KOs), a former Colombian Olympian who now lives in Montreal. The winner earns the right to become the mandatory challenger for WBC Light Heavyweight World Champion Adonis Stevenson.

Chilemba, who is based in South Africa, has won four consecutive fights, including a 10-round decision over Vasily Lepikhin in his last outing last March 14 in Montreal.

The Montreal-based Alvarez has fought all but one of his 18 pro fights in Canada. He’s coming off a 12-round decision over Isidro Ranoni in a WBC Silver 175-pound title fight last Aug. 15 in Montreal.

Below is what DeGale and Bute and the executives had to say on Tuesday at the Videotron Centre in Quebec City and Thursday at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium in London:

JAMES DEGALE
“I am excited to face an elite fighter like Lucian, who was champion for five years.

“He is still a good boxer and he told me he wants the belt back. But trust me; I am too young, too fresh and just too good.

“The way I’m feeling, mentally and physically, I’m in fantastic shape. It’s going to be very hard to beat me.

“My journey is only just starting, his is about to end in November.

“The way I am training, nobody will beat me. You can see my character just by the fact I accepted to come here and take that fight. Be ready for a furious and spectacular fight.

“There is no one in this division who can beat me. I’m willing to box anyone. I want to fight all the big fighters in the biggest fights.”

LUCIAN BUTE
“I am really happy to be back in Quebec City. Some of my best memories are here. I won four fights here. Six years ago, Nov. 28, 2009, the same day I will fight James DeGale, I knocked out Librado Andrade. And I also defeated Glen Johnson in Quebec City.

“DeGale is a great champion, but to come here to face me in my hometown, in front of 15,000 people, it won’t be easy for him. I am the challenger, I am the underdog, and he is the champion, but the pressure is on him.

“The past is in the past. I feel fresh. I have a new team and different people behind me. This opportunity is huge for me.

“I had the belt for five years and on Nov. 28, I will be the new world champion. I am very confident about this.

“I dealt with this when I faced Carl Froch in England.

“My dream is to regain my world title. I always believe in myself and in my tools. The belt will remain in Quebec.”

HOWARD GRANT (Bute’s head trainer)
“My job is simple: I have to prepare Lucian to win the title. British fighters were always dominant in the 160-pound and 168-pound divisions.

“DeGale is explosive, he won at the Olympic Games in 2008, and a World Championship in the United States, but that won’t work Nov. 28.”

JIM MCDONNELL (DeGale’s head trainer)
“James is different. He did everything on the rough path: being an Olympic champion, winning the British title in his ninth fight and becoming world champion in the United States. The more pressure he has, the better he is.

“I never knew anybody like him before. He can’t be intimidated. James respects Bute, but they say when you win a title, you get better. It will be frightening.”

JEAN BÉDARD
“It’s going to be a fun night. I have two great defining moments in my 10 years in the boxing world. The first one was Oct. 19, 2007, when Lucian became world champion live on TVA (Quebec TV channel) and Nov. 28, 2009, in front of a jam-packed crowd of 16,000 fans at the Québec Coliseum when Lucian beat Librado Andrade. Now, six years later, we are ready for a historic date.”

YVON MICHEL
“No champion in Quebec’s boxing history ever regained a world title after losing it. The task will be hard because DeGale is very skilled and brave. He won his title in the United States, far from his home. Still, we root for Lucian Bute 100 percent. We have a 12,000-seat stadium configuration in the brand new Vidéotron Centre and we had already brought more people before for some of Lucian’s fights. We are convinced that Quebec’s boxing fans will also root for Lucian.”

Tickets will go on sale this Saturday, October 10 at the Vidéotron Centre box office, on www.ticketmaster.ca, at GYM (514) 383-0666, at InterBox (450) 645-1077 or at Champion boxing club (514) 376-0980.

@butelucian, @jamesdegale1, @yvonmichelGYM, @interboxca, @stormalvarez, @abeterbiev, @SHOsports,

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, Isaac Chielmba and Eleider Alvarez have agreed to meet in a Light Heavyweight elimination bout in November.

“Alvarez and Chilemba are both at the elite level of the light heavyweight division, insuring a spectacularly intense fight that will determine the rest of their respective careers,” Alvarez promoter Yvon Michel said.

Said Main Events CEO Kathy Duva, Chilemba’s promoter, “Isaac and Main Events are very much looking forward to the fight and very happy to have come to an agreement with our friends at [Groupe Yvon Michel].”

otowa, NJ: Last week Isaac “Golden Boy” Chilemba (24-2-2, 10 KOs) had the very rare privilege of choosing between two mandatory offers: one from the WBC and the other from the IBF. The 28-year old from Malawi opted to take the offer from the WBC. Shortly thereafter, the IBF extended the mandatory fight offer to Main Events’ stablemate Sullivan Barrera (16-0, 11 KOs), the 33-year old Cuban defector.

Yesterday, Chilemba formally accepted the the WBC elimination bout against Eleider “Storm” Alvarez (18-0, 10 KOs) of Apartado, Colombia and Yvon Michel, Alvarez’s promoter, formally accepted for Alvarez. The winner of this fight will be poised as the WBC’s mandatory challenger in the light heavyweight division and will have their shot at current WBC Light Heavyweight World Champion, Adonis “Superman” Stevenson (26-1, 21 KOs).

Regarding Alvarez, Chilemba said, “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. Just that is what will drive me into leaving nothing to chance when I face Alvarez. I really appreciate the great work of my team getting me where I am today.”

His manager, Jodi Solomon added, “I want to thank Alvarez and his team for accepting the fight. Isaac has wanted this opportunity for the longest time and I believe with Buddy [McGirt] in his corner, nothing will be left to chance. Thank you also to Main Events for helping to get Isaac this opportunity.”

Sullivan Barrera
Photo Credits: Mike Gladysz/Main Events

Last week, Barrera formally accepted his offer from the IBF to face Artur Beterbiev (9-0, 9 KOs) for the mandatory position in the IBF. The winner will face WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (28-0-1, 25 KOs).

An eager Barrera said, “I’m excited to finally get my opportunity. I’m looking forward to the fight. I don’t know anything about Beterbiev. Only thing I know is to get to the top I have to beat him. Looking forward to the opportunity.”

Sullivan is trained by world renowned trainer, Abel Sanchez, who is best known for training current IBF and WBA Middleweight World Champion Gennady “GGG” Golovkin. When asked about this opportunity, Sanchez replied, “Warriors understand greatness is only reached when you challenge yourself. Sullivan Barrera is a warrior wanting to be champion and knows that fighting the perceived best is the fastest way to your dreams coming true.”

Main Events CEO, Kathy Duva, who promotes Chilemba, Barrera and Kovalev, said, “We’ve been focused on the light heavyweight division for the past few years. I’m delighted that so many of our efforts are paying off at the same time and that Isaac and Sullivan are finally getting the opportunities that they’ve earned and have been waiting for. Yvon (Michel, who promotes both Beterbiev and Alvarez) and I have a lot to talk about! I’ve reached out for him and expect that we’ll begin negotiations over the weekend.”

Sergey Kovalev retained the IBF/WBA/WBO Light Heavyweight titles with an exciting 8th round stoppage over former champion Jean Pascal at Bell Centre in Montreal.

After Pascal landed two hard right hands in round three, Kovalev landed a big left hook that rocked Pascal. At the end of the round, Kovalev landed a huge right that slumped Pascal in between the ropes for a knockdown. It was the first time Pascal has been down as a pro.

In round eight, Kovalev rocked Pascal with a right hand but the two became tangled up and Kovalev tripped to the canvas. While referee Luis Pabon was tending to Kovalev, Pascal wobbled into the corner. When the fight resumed, Kovalev drilled Pascal with two hard right hands and the fight was stopped at 1:03.

Kovalev, 174 1/2 lbs of Russia is now 27-0-1 with 24 knockouts. Pascal, 175 lbs of Montreal is now 29-3-1.

Vyacheslav Glazkov won a controversial unanimous decision over Steve Cunningham in an IBF Heavyweight elimination bout.

Cunningham threw and and landed more punches but somehow the judges saw Glazkov as the winner by scores of 116-112 twice and 115-113.

Glazkov, 219 1/2 lbs of Ukraine is now 20-0-1. Cunningham, 209 1/2 lbs of Philadelphia is now 28-7.

Isaac Chilemba won a 10-round unanimous decision over Vasily Lepikhin in a Light Heavyweight bout.

Chilemba, 175 lbs of South Africa won by scores of 100-90 and 99-91 twice and is now 24-1-1. Lepikhin, 175 lbs of Russia is now 17-1.

Two of the world’s top light heavyweights face off in a highly anticipated title showdown when WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING: SERGEY KOVALEV VS. JEAN PASCAL, VYACHESLAV GLAZKOV VS. STEVE CUNNINGHAM AND ISAAC CHILEMBA VS. VASILY LEPIKHIN is seen SATURDAY, MARCH 14 at 9:45 p.m. (live ET/tape-delayed PT) from the Montréal Bell Centre in Montréal, Canada, exclusively on HBO. The HBO Sports team will call the action, which will be available in HDTV, closed-captioned for the hearing-impaired and presented in Spanish on HBO Latino.

Other HBO playdates: March 15 (9:30 a.m.) and 16 (midnight)

HBO2 playdate: March 17 (11:00 p.m.)

In the main event, undefeated Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (26-0-1, 23 KOs) of Kopeysk, Russia, now living in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., takes on Jean Pascal (29-2-1, 17 KOs) originally from Port-au-Prince Haiti, now living in Laval, Quebec, Canada in a 12-round light heavyweight title contest. The fast-rising, hard-hitting Kovalev has taken the division by storm with an 85% knockout ratio, and solidified his standing with a 12-round unanimous decision in a title unification bout against future hall of famer Bernard Hopkins last November. One of the sport’s top attractions thanks to his fan-friendly style, Kovalev enjoyed a banner year in 2014, earning fighter of the year honors from a host of boxing news organizations. The fight marks his sixth HBO appearance.

Also known for his rugged style and never-back-down approach, Pascal was last seen on HBO in Jan. 2014 when he defeated Lucian Bute. He’ll draw support from a partisan hometown crowd in this showdown.

In the co-feature, Vyacheslav Glazkov (19-0-1, 12 KOs) from Lugansk, Ukraine, now living in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., takes on Steve Cunningham (28-6, 13 KOs) of Philadelphia in a scheduled 12-round heavyweight title elimination fight. The winner will be a contender for a heavyweight title bout with Wladimir Klitschko.

Glazkov was a 2008 Olympic bronze medalist for Ukraine. Cunningham, a former two-time cruiserweight titleholder, has drawn inspiration from his nine-year-old daughter Kennedy, who has triumphed over a heart defect and survived a heart transplant. Both fighters are making their HBO debuts.

In the opening bout, Isaac Chilemba (23-2-2, 10 KOs), originally from Blantyre, Malawi, now living in Johannesburg, South Africa, takes on undefeated Vasily Lepikhin (17-0, 9 KOs) from Gelendzhik, Russia, in a scheduled 12-round light heavyweight contest. Rising steadily in the ranks of the light heavyweight division, Chilemba has a 4-0-1 record against undefeated opponents. In his third North American appearance, Lepikhin will look to make a major move in the rankings.

Follow HBO boxing news at hbo.com/boxing, on Facebook at facebook.com/hboboxing and on Twitter at twitter.com/hboboxing.

All HBO boxing events are presented in HDTV. HBO viewers must have access to the HBO HDTV channel to watch HBO programming in high definition.

The executive producer of WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING is Rick Bernstein; producer, Dave Harmon; director, Johnathan Evans.

® WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING is a registered service mark of Home Box Office, Inc.

###

Montreal, Quebec, Canada: In the opening bout of the HBO World Championship Boxing® triple header on March 14, Isaac “Golden Boy” Chilemba (23-2-2, 10 KOs), the #2 light heavyweight in the world, will face undefeated Russian prospect, Vasily “The Professor” Lepikhin (17-0-0, 9 KOs) for 12 rounds of non-stop action. Chilemba is technical fighter whereas Lepikhin is a boxer/puncher. Below is the scouting report for this match-up:

Category
Isaac “The Golden Boy” Chilemba
Vasily “The Professor” Lepikhin
Age
27
29
Record
23-2-2 (10 KOs)
17-0-0 (9 KOs)
Strength
Chilemba is a skilled technical fighter with incredible endurance and good defense. He utilizes his jab well and has good accuracy with his punches.
Vasily is a boxer/puncher who possesses powerful combinations and a good chin. He fights with confidence and is willing to stand and trade with anybody.
Weakness
“The Golden Boy” does not possess adequate punching power in either hand; he has only recorded one knockout victory since 2011.
Lepikhin tends to not utilize his size and reach, which was on display in his previous bout against the hard-hitting Jackson Junior. He took shots that he did not have to take which could prove costly when facing a boxer as accurate as Isaac Chilemba.
Experience
Chilemba has faced top opposition throughout his career, which includes a pair of bouts with former title challenger Tony Bellew and a win over former title contender Edison Miranda.
“The Professor” will be at a disadvantage here, because he has not yet faced any top-level opposition.
Power
Chilemba will be at a disadvantage here; he recorded only one knockout since 2011 in his most recent bout again the tough and gritty Cory Cummings.
Vasily will have the advantage here. He throws vicious body shots and three of his last four knockouts have come in the first round including one against the hard-hitting and longtime ranked light heavyweight contender, Robert “The Butcher” Berridge.
Speed
Chilemba is very quick on his feet, which makes him difficult to hit at times.
Lepikhin’s speed is on full display during his combinations.
Endurance
Chilemba has excellent endurance, as he has gone 12 rounds eight times in his career.
Vasily has good endurance. He has proven this by going a full 10 rounds on three different occasions, including his most recent bout.
Accuracy
Chilemba is a very accurate puncher; he picks his shots wisely and times his punches well.
Lepikhin has solid accuracy, which can be seen during his work to the body.
Defense
Chilemba will be at an advantage here. He possesses good foot work and moves around the ring very well. He is also an effective counter-puncher, which stems from his defensive skills.
Vasily will be at a disadvantage here. Vasily is a big man that likes to fight the fight of a smaller man. He likes to stand toe-to-toe and will take shots in order to give them right back.
Chin
Chilemba has never been stopped, and was able to get off the canvas to earn a win over previously undefeated Maxim Vlasov after being knocked down twice.
Lepikhin has a solid chin and showed he can overcome an onslaught from a big puncher in his most recent bout with Jackson Junior.
Style
Isaac is a technical fighter with good counter-boxing skills and a good defense.
Vasily is a boxer/puncher who likes to engage with his opponents and utilize his vicious body attack.
Intangibles
Chilemba is sitting comfortably in his division as the WBC #2 contender, and instead of protecting that ranking he has decided to continue fighting the best in the world. He is challenging himself against the highly regarded and ranked Lepikhin. Since 2009, Chilemba has faced opposition with a combined record of 249-46-5.
After knocking off two consecutive power punchers in Robert Berridge and Jackson Junior, “The Professor” has decided to challenge himself and show the world that he can compete against a technical boxer who is also ranked #2 in the world.
Crowd Support
Chilemba may have a slight advantage here, he has been in bigger fights throughout his career and may be more known to the true boxing fans in attendance
Vasily may be at a disadvantage here, but his in-your-face style just might win him some crowd support by the end of the night and by signing a co-promotional agreement with Interbox he may have the Canadian fans on his side.
The Match-up
Will Chilemba use his footwork to make this an easy fight for him and a hard fight for Lepikhin?
Will Chilemba be able to take Lepikhin’s power?
Will Lepikhin be able to break through Chilemba’s defense?
Will Lepikhin be able to cut off the ring and have Chilemba in the place he needs him to be?

According to Jolene Mizzone, Main Events’ matchmaker, “This is a very important fight because this is a very important division right now. The winner of this fight would put himself right in the mix with any of the light heavyweight champions.”

About Kovalev vs. Pascal
Kovalev vs. Pascal is a 12-round fight for the WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Championship Titles. The fight will be televised as part of a live triple header on HBO World Championship Boxing® Saturday, March 14 from the Centre Bell in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Tickets are on sale now at the Centre Bell ticket office, at www.evenko.ca, by telephone at 1-855-310-2525 or through Club de Boxe Champion 514-376-0980. This event is a co-promotion of Main Events and InterBox, presented by Vidéotron in association with Mise-O-Jeu.

Isaac Chilemba vs Vasily Lepikhin March 14th HBO
Isaac Chilemba vs Vasily Lepikhin March 14th HBO

Joe’s Rants: Sergey Kovalev vs. Jean Pascal
Joe’s Rants: Sergey Kovalev vs. Jean Pascal

Hey Harold! Kovalev vs. Pascal (HBO Boxing)
Hey Harold! Kovalev vs. Pascal (HBO Boxing)

Greatest Hits: Sergey Kovalev (HBO Boxing)
Greatest Hits: Sergey Kovalev (HBO Boxing)

Road to Kovalev-Pascal (Full Show)
Road to Kovalev-Pascal
(Full Show)

WCB: Kovalev vs. Pascal Preview (HBO Boxing)
WCB: Kovalev vs. Pascal Preview (HBO Boxing)

FOLLOW US:
kovalboxer.com
Twitter: @krusherkovalev
Facebook: facebook.com/shopkrusher
www.jeanpascalboxing.com/en/
Twitter: @jeanpascalchamp
Facebook: facebook.com/Jean-Pascal/25519558870
www.mainevents.com
Twitter: @main_events
Facebook: facebook.com/MainEventsBoxing
www.interbox.ca
Twitter: @interboxca
Facebook: facebook.com/interbox
Twitter: twitter.com/CzarGlazkov
Facebook: facebook.com/vyacheslavglazkovboxer
Twitter: twitter.com/usscunningham
Facebook: facebook.com/steveusscunningham
Twitter: twitter.com/Isaac_Chilemba
Facebook: facebook.com/Isaac-Chilemba/172773612836036
Instagram: instagram.com/lepikhin_v

Isaac Chilemba
[On his shorter training camp] First of all, I thank God for this opportunity. I am fighting on HBO and it is a dream come true. When I am back home, I always keep in shape so training in the United States is just a tune up for me before the fight. I am really looking forward to next week.

[On his game plan for Lepikhin] I am always ready for anything. We prepare for anything that might possibly happen in the ring. Lepikhin is a good fighter. He has good movement. He has a good jab. That is what training is there for. I don’t see anything to cause a problem in the fight. We will deal with what he brings us.

[On whether the close decisions he lost in the past have added pressure] I have learned from my close decisions in the past. My goal is not to give any opponent a chance that it could be close call again. I want to win every round from beginning to end. I don’t want to give any second thought as to whether or not I win the fight.

[What was his favorite win?] I value all my fights. Every win means a lot to me. They are all equal.

[On his dreams as a child in Malawi] My dream from the beginning has been to be the best in the world and to be best in my division. People talk about Muhammed Ali and Joe Frazier; I wanted to be like them. This is my dream coming true. I am getting closer. The closer I get to my dream the more I want to be one of the greatest in the world.

[On his toughest fight so far in his career] [Tony] Bellew was my hardest fight in my career. I defeated myself. I didn’t know who I was, what I was or what I was doing; I continued to fight with myself. I never thought that would happen in my life. It was a big learning point for me. I have to make sure I am mentally in good shape for this fight. I am always make sure I am in good shape physically.

[On fighting in the deeper rounds] My 12 rounds fights have taught me a lot. I don’t know how Lepikhin is prepared and whether he is tough enough to go the distance but I have been there. I always push myself to the max because I just want that win.

[On fighting in the United States and Canada] Here in America is the mecca of boxing. It is every African fighters dream to fight in America and get an American promoter. I am living that dream.

[On who he would like to fight next] My goal is to fight anyone who is on top. I think even the loser of Kovalev-Pascal will still be ranked higher up. I would love to fight the winner or [Adonis] Stevenson because I am ranked #2, even if I have to wait for that opportunity I know I am getting closer to the champ.

Vasily Lepikhin
[On Chilemba] First of all I am very happy to be fighting on HBO. It is all going to depend on the situation what will happen. I am going to do my work. I am not going to aim for anything. I am trying to win the fight.

[On his mental preparation] Chilemba is a better known fighter than me and this gives me more motivation. I want to show everyone I am a very good fighter and show the fans more good boxing. It is always important for me to look good in any fight and make fans like me. It doesn’t matter who else is there I am motivated for my fight with Chilemba.

[On pressure to secure the knockout] Basically, it really doesn’t matter to me if I am going to knockout my opponent or win by points. Most important to me is to win. I just want to show my boxing skills to the fans.

[On never going past ten rounds in his professional career] I am ready for all 12 rounds of this fight. I have already been 10 rounds and I don’t think two more rounds is much of a difference.

Egis Klimas, Manager of Vasily Lepikhin
[On following in Kovalev’s footsteps] Today every fighter would love to follow Sergey’s Kovalev’s footsteps, but probably nobody could do it. Nobody can follow [Floyd] Mayweather or [Mike] Tyson’s or Roy Jones, Jr.’s careers either. Every fighter is different. Every fighter dreams of fighting for the title and becoming world champion. Vasily is trying and wants to make his mark.

[On Chilemba] Isaac is a good fighter. He has been around for a long time. He has beaten good fighters but we are not worried about the other fighter. We worry about what we are going to do on March 14.

[On Lepikhin’s nickname “The Professor”] When he was fighting in his first professional fight, the promoter said he was very smart in the ring like a professor of boxing and that is where he got his nickname.

[On his struggles in his last fight] Jackson Junior is a good fighter but he wasn’t 100% healthy for that fight. He got very, very sick when he first arrived in Pennsylvania. There was deliberation about whether or not he was going to fight. I wasn’t there because I was with Sergey in Atlantic City [for the Hopkins fight] and his trainer decided he was going to take the fight. It isn’t an excuse. He travelled to the United States earlier for this fight so hopefully he won’t get sick in Canada.

Kathy Duva, CEO of Main Events
In this fight we have two light heavyweights here who are in their primes. We know welterweights have ruled boxing for the past ten years or so, but I think their time is coming to an end. I think light heavyweights are the future. This is a great fight with two terrific fighters and nobody can predict the outcome. I am excited to present this fight with my co-promoters from Canada, Interbox.

Congratulations are also owed to [Main Events’ matchmaker] Jolene Mizzone for putting together this amazing card. She has been working very hard with Interbox to put on an amazing show.

[On what is next for the winner] The winner clearly moves up in the rankings. It probably does not get them a title shot because the winner of Kovalev-Pascal is obligated to fight [Nadjib] Mohammedi and there is the WBC mandatory fight with [Adonis] Stevenson also in the mix. The winner, and the loser, will still be in the mix in the division though. First they have to fight each other. We are going to learn more about each of them from this fight. Nobody can predict the winner. Sergey presents great challenges to everyone. Our job is not only to promote Sergey Kovalev but to think about a future. We need to think about potential opponents for him. Both of these young men could end up fighting him in the future. Because both of them are with Main Events it will make this fight difficult for me to watch but great for the fans.

[On the possibility of more collaboration with Interbox] It has been a pleasure working with Interbox and hope to continue the relationship in the future.

[On fighting for the NABF belt even though neither fighter is from North America] Both their promoters are from North America and they both train here.

[On the light heavyweight division now that PBC has signed more fighters in the division] [Lucian] Bute has an obligation to fight Pascal next. I take the long view of things. I have seen people come and go and try to change the boxing industry. Golden Boy [Promotions] was the only up-and-comer to become a player. It is too far away to know what will happen in a year or so. The WBC has ordered [Adonis] Stevenson to fight the winner of Kovalev-Pascal next.

Jean Bedard, President of Interbox
[Statement from Bedard, who was unable to participate in the call] It is very important for us to offer our fans a quality product on March 14th and the addition to the card of a boxer with such enormous potential such as Vasily Lepikhin in a match against a world-rated contender is as exciting as it is strategic. We are also very happy to be able to further build on our relationship with Main Events moving forward past March 14th.

About Kovalev vs. Pascal
Kovalev vs. Pascal is a 12-round fight for the WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Championship Titles. The fight will be televised as part of a live triple header on HBO World Championship Boxing® Saturday, March 14 from the Centre Bell in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Tickets are on sale now at the Centre Bell ticket office, at www.evenko.ca, by telephone at 1-855-310-2525 or through Club de Boxe Champion 514-376-0980. This event is a co-promotion of Main Events and InterBox, presented by Vidéotron in association with Mise-O-Jeu.

Oxnard, CA:
As Vasily “The Professor” Lepikhin (17-0, 9 KOs) prepares to face Isaac “Golden Boy” Chilemba (23-2-2, 10 KOs) for the NABF Light Heavyweight Title on March 14 in the opening bout of the Kovalev-Pascal HBO World Championship Boxing® telecast he cannot help to reflect on his career thus far.

The common misconception is that Lepikhin earned the nickname, “The Professor” while attending university in his hometown of Gelendzhik, Russia. Although he does have two degrees, one in sports (similar to a US degree in athletic training) and one in management, he was coined “The Professor” when he made his professional debut back in 2005 at the age of 19. He explained, “When I had my pro debut in Russia, the promoter of the show thought I was so smart in the ring he said I was a professor of boxing. From that point on I was known professionally as ‘The Professor.'”

Berridge & Lepikhin
Photo Credits: Rich Graessle/Main Events

The undefeated Lepikhin has had a stellar career so far. He has an impressive 53% (9 of 17) knockout-to win ratio with the majority of his fights taking place in his home country of Russia. He made his US debut back in August of 2014 with an impressive fifth round stoppage of Robert Berridge of New Zealand to secure the PABA and WBO Oriental Light Heavyweight Titles. Shortly after the fight Lepikhin and his promoter, German Titov of German Titov Promotions, signed a co-promotional agreement with Main Events.

Lepikhin & Junior
Photo Credits: Rich Graessle/Main Events

In November, he returned to the US to face Brazilian Jackson Junior. Lepikhin appeared to struggle against Junior but still managed to secure the ten-round unanimous decision victory. He explained, “In my last fight I arrived to Pennsylvania and got very sick. I went into the ring sick.”

For this upcoming fight Lepikhin and his camp traveled from Russia to Oxnard, CA on February 21 to finish out the remainder of his training camp in the United States. “I came to Oxnard so I could adjust to the time difference and to get in a little sparring before heading to Canada,” said Vasily.

Igor, Vasily and Andrey Lepikhin
Photo Credits: Rich Graessle/Main Events

For Lepikhin, boxing is a family affair. He is trained by his father, Andrey Lepikhin, the same trainer that also trains fellow Main Events’ stable mate, middleweight Dmitry Mikhaylenko. His brother, Igor Lepikhin, will also work his corner for him on March 14 when he faces Chilemba in Canada. Vasily said, “I love training with my father. I love every single minute of it. It is great for me because I get to work with my family.”

Early in 2015 Lepikhin, Main Events and German Titov Promotions were approached about joining forces with Interbox to co-promote Lepikhin and add a fight between Vasily and Isaac Chilemba to the HBO World Championship Boxing® telecast. Lepikhin said, “I am very excited about fighting on HBO and this new opportunity with Interbox. I am looking forward to showcasing my skills on this large international scale.”

The fight with Chilemba, who is currently ranked #2 in the IBF, will be a ten-round fight for the NABF Light Heavyweight Title. When asked about the fight with Chilemba, Lepikhin said, “I think Chilemba is a very good, experienced fighter. It is going to be a very good bout.” His father/trainer added, “We travelled a long road to get to this point. We are very, very happy to finally be here. We are ready.”

About Kovalev vs. Pascal
Kovalev vs. Pascal is a 12-round fight for the WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Championship Titles. The fight will be televised as part of a live triple header on HBO World Championship Boxing® Saturday, March 14 from the Centre Bell in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Tickets are on sale now at the Centre Bell ticket office, at www.evenko.ca, by telephone at 1-855-310-2525 or through Club de Boxe Champion 514-376-0980. This event is a co-promotion of Main Events and InterBox, presented by Vidéotron in association with Mise-O-Jeu.

FOLLOW US:
kovalboxer.com
Twitter: @krusherkovalev
Facebook: facebook.com/shopkrusher
www.jeanpascalboxing.com/en/
Twitter: @jeanpascalchamp
Facebook: facebook.com/Jean-Pascal/25519558870
www.mainevents.com
Twitter: @main_events
Facebook: facebook.com/MainEventsBoxing
www.interbox.ca
Twitter: @interboxca
Facebook: facebook.com/interbox
Twitter: twitter.com/CzarGlazkov
Facebook: facebook.com/vyacheslavglazkovboxer
Twitter: twitter.com/usscunningham
Facebook: facebook.com/steveusscunningham
Twitter: twitter.com/Isaac_Chilemba
Facebook: facebook.com/Isaac-Chilemba/172773612836036
Instagram: instagram.com/lepikhin_v

Boucherville, Wednesday, February 18, 2015 – Main Events and Interbox announced today that the NABF Light Heavyweight Title fight between Isaac “Golden Boy” Chilemba vs. Vasily “The Professor” Lepikhin will be the opening bout of the HBO World Championship Boxing tripleheader featuring the Unified Light Heavyweight Champion Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev vs. Jean Pascal in the main event and heavyweights Vyacheslav “Czar” Glazkov vs. Steve “USS” Cunningham in the co-feature on Saturday, March 14 live from the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The HBO® telecast begins at 9 :45 p.m. ET/PT.

Main Events, German Titov Promotions and Interbox are also pleased to announce they have have agreed on a partnership and will join forces together in the promotion of Vasily Lepikhin moving forward.

A top ten light heavyweight, Chilemba (23-2-2, 10 KOs), 27, is originally from Malawi but currently resides in Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa. He has won all of his fights and has been quietly rising through the rankings in the light heavyweight division since suffering a decision loss to Tony Bellew in London two years ago. Currently, he is ranked #2 by the WBC, #6 by the WBO, and #7 by the IBF, as well as #6 by Ring Magazine and #8 by ESPN. Chilemba is known as a skilled boxer with a history of marring the records of undefeated opponents; he’s taken on five undefeated boxers in his pro career, suffering only one draw (Thomas Oostguizen)and no losses. Unbeaten prospect and amateur standout Artur Beterbiev passed on the opportunity to fight Chilemba on March 14th, clearing the way for Lepikhin to move in and seize the opportunity. Isaac will once again train with former WBC Welterweight World Champion James “Buddy” McGirt.

According to Isaac, “I am ready for this fight and happy to step into the ring with anyone that’s put in front of me. I never underestimate my opponents and I always come prepared. I am looking forward to March 14. I have trained hard and I will get the job done.” His manager, Jodi Solomon, added, “Isaac is a hardworking, disciplined athlete. He is serious about boxing and even more serious about winning. This fight is a great opportunity for him to showcase his dedication to the sport. I believe it’s very well matched, both fighters being accomplished in their own right. It should make for a very exciting fight.”

In the other corner, Interbox, Main Events and German Titov Promotions have joined forces in the promotion of undefeated Russian blue chip prospect Vasily “The Professor” Lepikhin (17-0, 9 KOs). Lepikhin, 29, is ranked #7 by the WBO and #12 in the WBA. “The Professor” is from Gelendzhik, Russia and is trained by his father Andrey Lepikhin. Vasily made his US debut in August of last year with a fifth round stoppage against New Zealand native Robert Berridge to secure the WBO Oriental and PABA Light Heavyweight Titles. The undefeated Lepikhin returned stateside in November and defeated Jackson Junior from Brazil in November. This will be his first fight in Canada.

“I am very excited about fighting on HBO and this new opportunity with Interbox,” explained Lepikhin. “I am looking forward to showcasing my skills on this large international scale.”

Lepikhin is managed by Egis Klimas, the same manager who has steered Sergey Kovalev’s career from the very beginning. Klimas added, “This is a great opportunity for Vasily. He is ready for a great fight on March 14 in Canada.”

“It is very important for us to offer our fans a quality product on March 14th and the addition to the card of a boxer with such enormous potential such as Vasily Lepikhin in a match against a world-rated contender is as exciting as it is strategic. We are also very happy to be able to further build on our relationship with Main Events moving forward past March 14th,” said Interbox President Jean Bedard.

Kathy Duva, CEO of Main Events, added, “We had a great opportunity with this opening bout for Isaac to be on HBO and move up in the rankings and the eyes of the boxing public. In a fortuitous turn of events, Vasily will get the same opportunity and Main Events and German Titov Promotions will grow what has become a great working relationship in Canada with Interbox.”

Tickets
Tickets are on sale now at the Bell Centre ticket office, at www.evenko.ca , by telephone at 1-855-310-2525 or through Club de Boxe Champion (514-376-0980). This event is a co-promotion of Main Events and InterBox, presented by Vidéotron in association with Mise-O-Jeu.

About Main Events
Main Events was founded in 1978 by the late Dan Duva and is now run by his widow Kathy Duva. As one of the top promotional companies in the world Main Events has promoted boxing legends Evander Holyfield, Arturo Gatti, Lennox Lewis, Pernell Whitaker and many more. Currently Main Events promotes WBO, IBF and WBA Light Heavyweight World Champion Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev who just defeated legendary light heavyweight Bernard “The Alien” Hopkins in one of the highest-rated fights of 2014 in November in Atlantic City, NJ. Main Events is committed to promoting quality fights that boxing fans want to see.

About InterBox
InterBox, founded in Québec in 1997, and acquired by Groupe Sportscene in 2004, is recognized throughout Québec and the world as a respected boxing organization. InterBox’s goal is to promote professional boxing locally and internationally via talented boxers supported by top-drawer trainers using cutting edge techniques. InterBox regularly promotes and presents elite events in cooperation with such significant corporate sponsors as Vidéotron, the Cage aux Sports restaurant chain, Coors Light and Mise-O-jeu.

FOLLOW US:
kovalboxer.com
Twitter: @krusherkovalev
Facebook: facebook.com/shopkrusher
www.jeanpascalboxing.com/en/
Twitter: @jeanpascalchamp
Facebook: facebook.com/Jean-Pascal/25519558870
www.mainevents.com
Twitter: @main_events
Facebook: facebook.com/MainEventsBoxing
www.interbox.ca
Twitter: @interboxca
Facebook: facebook.com/interbox
Twitter: twitter.com/CzarGlazkov
Facebook: facebook.com/vyacheslavglazkovboxer
www.heartybyfaith.com
Twitter: twitter.com/usscunningham
Facebook: facebook.com/steveusscunningham
Twitter: twitter.com/Isaac_Chilemba
Facebook: facebook.com/Isaac-Chilemba/172773612836036
Instagram: instagram.com/lepikhin_v