WBO, WBA and IBF light heavyweight world champion Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (29-0-1, 26 KOs) returns to his home country of Russia to defend all three of his belts against Isaac “Golden Boy” Chilemba (24-3-2, 10 KOs) on Monday, July 11 in Ekaterinburg. 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.

This will be Krusher’s first title defense in Russia.

The fight will be broadcast live in Russia by Channel One as well as other regions in Europe. HBO has not committed to the event as of yet, meaning the fight potentially could be void of U.S. television home.

Last month, Kathy Duva, Main Events Promotions C.E.O., stated that Kovalev would return to the ring before June in order to fight Andre Ward in July, the bout being made in July seems to say that bout with Ward is now set for December or early 2017