By Allan Fox: Sergey Kovalev will be facing a very slick fighter on July 11 in Isaac Chilemba on July 11 in Ekaterinburg, Russia. This is a fight to prepare Kovalev for the slick style of former WBA super middleweight champion Andre Ward, who Kovalev(29-0-1, 26 KOs) will be fighting later this year if he and Ward win their next fights.
Kovalev, 32, will be defending his IBF/WBA/WBO 175lb titles against the 28-year-old Chilemba (24-3-2, 10 KOs) at the Palace of Sports.