HBO Boxing’s flagship program kicks off 2016 with a highly anticipated light heavyweight title rematch when WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING: SERGEY KOVALEV VS. JEAN PASCAL II AND DMITRY MIKHAYLENKO VS. KARIM MAYFIELD is seen SATURDAY, JAN. 30 at 9:45 p.m. (live ET/tape-delayed PT) from the Bell Centre in Montreal, exclusively on HBO. The HBO Sports broadcasting 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: Jan. 31 (9:30 a.m.) and Feb. 1 (11:30 p.m.)

HBO2 playdate: Feb. 2 (11:30 p.m.)

Undefeated Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (28-0-1, 25 KOs) of Kopeysk, Russia, now living and training in Los Angeles and Ft. Lauderdale, defends his light heavyweight crown for the second time against Jean Pascal (30-3-1, 17 KOs) of Quebec, Canada, in a scheduled 12-round bout. The 32-year-old Kovalev, who owns one of the highest knockout percentages in boxing and is among the fiercest punchers, has been a force in the 175-pound division, beating ring legend Bernard Hopkins in a unification bout, as well as knocking out Nathan Cleverly and Cedric Agnew prior to his fiercely contested victory over Pascal in March 2015. His name appears on virtually every list that ranks the sport’s pound-for-pound aces.

After losing to Kovalev via technical knockout, Pascal, 33, rebounded with a decision win against Yunieski Gonzalez in Las Vegas last July and now seeks victory before a hometown Montreal crowd. The fight marks Kovalev’s eighth appearance on HBO and Pascal’s sixth.

The opening bout features undefeated welterweight prospect Dmitry Mikhaylenko (20-0, 9 KOs) of Gelendzhik, Russia, and San Francisco’s Karim Mayfield (19-2-1, 11 KOs) in a 147-pound contest set for 10 rounds. Mikhaylenko’s opponent was originally slated to be Ray Robinson, but an injury suffered in an automobile accident caused Robinson to withdraw. Mayfield hopes to upset Mikhaylenko’s plans to fast-track up the ladder in the deeply talented welterweight division.

HBO’s flagship “World Championship Boxing” series marks its 44th year in 2016, while HBO Boxing presented its 1,000th fight last year.

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.

Sergey Kovalev, WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion
“I want to thank you. I am really excited to be here in Canada and repeat this fight again. I am really happy. I am happy to fight Saturday and show you quality boxing. I have nothing to say just watch HBO channel on Saturday night and at the Centre Bell in Montreal. It should be a very interesting fight in the ring because is going to be two good boxers. It is going to be very not a war; it is going to be a mental fight who is personal fight for me. I have nothing to say. He is not a fighter. I hope that he will bring something in the ring. We will be great fight for boxing fans. Appreciate to all my fans worldwide and more to my Canadian fans. Montreal remind me of my hometown in Russia with the snow and the weather. Thank you so much. I will try to make shorter. See you Saturday.”

Jean Pascal, Former Light Heavyweight World Champion
“Saturday night I am not just a boxer, I am a promoter. I have my boxer Joel Diaz on the card. He is my boxer. He is a rising star. Right now we have a chance to have this young lion in our backyard. He is 20-0 and is going to be 21-0 on Saturday. Don’t miss his fight. The reason why I am a promoter is Kovalev said he is going to end my career. Do good on Saturday night, Diaz, because Saturday night is supposed to be the end of my career. I woke up good this morning and in a great mood. I don’t want to insult anybody. I don’t want to trash talk to anyone. I feel like training camp was great. I did 12 weeks: four in weeks in Canada and eight weeks in California with Freddie Roach. It was great. I had a great time in Los Angeles. The training was intense. I pushed myself beyond the limits. I woke up late this morning. I did not have breakfast. I feel hungry right now. He called me and [Adonis] Stevenson a piece of shit, because we are black. The things that Kovalev don’t know yet he is going to find out Saturday night.”

Kathy Duva, CEO of Main Events
“Always a pleasure to be back in beautiful Montreal. This is another tremendous event. Main Events is promoting again in cooperation with the wonderful people at Interbox. If I could do every show with them, my life would be easy. Sadly, when the bell rings on Saturday, we will not be on the same side. I want to thank HBO and Peter Nelson, without whom I would not be here today. He is the reason Sergey Kovalev got the chance he got. He has converted on that opportunity. I look forward to continue to work with them in the future. Also on the HBO telecast is a great fight between Dmitry “The Mechanic” Mikhaylenko against Karim “Hard Hitta” Mayfield. It is a 10-round fight for the vacant USBA Welterweight Title. Watching Mikhaylenko fight is just amazing. It should be a terrific fight. When you get in the ring with Mikhaylenko, it is always a challenge. I would also like to thank our Russian sponsors, Rosneft and Myakhov Vodka. Thank you all for welcoming us the way you do. It is always a pleasure to come to Montreal.”

“I just have one question for Pascal, where did you get those sparkly sneakers because I need a pair.”

Jean Bedard, President of Interbox
“I would like to welcome everybody to Montreal. Who knows what we can expect on Saturday? I would like to thank Peter Nelson and HBO. Peter, I know you have big plans for Sergey in the future, but I think you will have to go back to the drawing board on Monday. I would like to thank Main Events and Kathy Duva. We have the same culture as them and that is to bring the best fights to the fans. Thank you Sergey Kovalev and his team for coming back to Montreal.”

Peter Nelson, Executive Vice President, HBO Sports
“Thank you Kathy. Jean [Bedard], to your point, I am keeping my Monday morning schedule open. I am excited to see what happens on Saturday. I want to thank the fighters for taking this high-risk, high-reward fight. This is our first World Championship Boxing event of 2016. Thank you to Jean Bedard and Kathy Duva. Kathy, between exporting Arturo Gatti to the United States and importing Sergey Kovalev to Canada, I don’t know if this makes you an honorary citizen or an enemy of the state here in Canada. To Kathy’s point about Sergey Kovalev, we are not the ones toiling for years, sacrificing to train and develop these fighters, to earn their opportunity to be on HBO. Sergey did it the hard way. Jean Pascal has never turned down a challenge. We are excited and looking forward to a terrific event.”

Egis Klimas, Manager of Sergey Kovalev
“Welcome to circus for free. We want to thank Canadian fans. This is a beautiful country and beautiful city. All of this talking is nothing. Pascal has a reason to be scared. He didn’t know the last time how hard Sergey can punch. He is more scared than the first time. We can’t blame Jean Pascal because he is scared. I don’t know why boxing always brings a war. It is still a spot it isn’t a war zone. We came to compete. Saturday is going to be a good fight.”

John David Jackson, Trainer of Sergey Kovalev
“Thank you very much. It is good to be here in Montreal once again. The fans are very warm and welcoming people. There is a lot I can say about Jean Pascal. He expressed his true colors. Sergey may say things that may come out the wrong way. If he was racist, I wouldn’t be in his corner. Marc [Ramsay] isn’t here because he told you [Pascal] will get knocked out this fight again.”

Freddie Roach, Trainer of Jean Pascal
“Thank you. We have had a really great training camp. Working very, very hard. His weight is good. Everything is spot on. I would like to wish Sergey Kovalev and John David Jackson the best of luck. We are ready and we are going to war.”

Dr. Robert Schinke, Pascal’s Sports Psychologist
“This is not about us, it is about the boxers. They are precious resources. Jean is a world class performer who always takes the best of opponents. Sergey Kovalev is the best of opponents and we respect him to the utmost. There has been a lot of verbal sparring in the last few weeks; it is going to be a war. We prepared well for it. Pascal is prepared. He has a full eight weeks of preparation with Freddie Roach. In the past, he has picked up the very skills he has needed to. He is happy to be back for this second fight. We believe he is fully capable and we will see Saturday night that our assessment is spot on.”

Montreal, Quebec, Canada: This Saturday, Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (28-0-1, 25 KOs) will march back into Jean Pascal’s (30-3-1, 17 KOs) home turf to defend his WBO, WBA, and IBF Light Heavyweight World Titles in the much-anticipated rematch televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing® beginning at 9:45 p.m. ET/PT. With the well-publicized history of bad blood between these two high-intensity fighters, fireworks are expected at the Bell Centre on Saturday. Below is the scouting report for this exciting rematch:

Category
Sergey “The Krusher” Kovalev
Jean Pascal
Age
31
33
Record
28-0-1 (25 KOs)
30-3-1 (17 KOs)
Strength
Kovalev has shown time and time again that he can knock anyone out with any punch he throws. He has also shown that he can take a punch just as well as he can throw one. He withstood some major shots in the first bout with Pascal, which ultimately ended any doubt about his chin.
Pascal is a gamer in every sense of the word. He is a crowd-pleasing fighter with good hand speed when he puts his punches together. He has good power in both hands and a good chin. He has competed against the division’s top fighters since 2008, before Sergey even made his pro debut.
Weakness
Kovalev tends to leave openings in his guard which allows him to get hit. He has a fearless style that could get him into trouble with the power that Pascal brings when he decides to put his punches together.
Jean has a tendency to turn a boxing match into a slugfest which could be a dangerous move against the heavy-handed Krusher, but this is something Freddie Roach, Pascal’s new trainer, has said he aims to improve.
Experience
Kovalev has not been on the world stage as long as Pascal, but he has beaten two world champions (Bernard Hopkins and Nathan Cleverly) and two former world champions (Gabriel Campillo and Jean Pascal).
Pascal may still have a slight experience advantage. He has been in eight major title fights, and holds victories over Chad Dawson and Lucian Bute.
Power
Krusher has unbelievable power in both hands. He throws every punch with bad intentions and puts together impressive combinations. He is also a very effective body puncher; he has ended a number of fights with shots to the midsection.
Although Pascal possesses solid power in both hands, he cannot match Sergey’s power. The Krusher has solidified his spot as the heaviest hitter in the light heavyweight division.
Speed
Kovalev has good hand speed that picks up once he smells blood and goes for the finish. He delivers a nasty onslaught of punches that has proven to overwhelm his opposition.
Pascal’s speed becomes more noticeable during his flurries of punches. He really turns it on when he has his opponent hurt and delivers a relentless attack that has proven effective in the past.
Endurance
Sergey has only fought 12 rounds once in his career. He defeated former multi-division champion Bernard Hopkins in 2014 in a 12-round unanimous decision.
Pascal has been 12 rounds on nine separate occasions. His previous fight went the distance and he earned a decision win over previously unbeaten Yunieski Gonzalez.
Accuracy
Sergey shows great accuracy with the long-range aggressive style that he utilizes. He possesses very accurate and powerful body shots as well.
Pascal does not utilize his jab as well at times and tends to get somewhat wild when unloading flurries of punches. However, he has an overhand right that be a game-changer if landed flush.
Defense
Sergey’s primary strength is his offense which has been established as his best defense. He likes to stalk his opposition, however, which can lead to him taking unnecessary shots from his opponents.
Pascal does not move around the ring as well. He likes to stand in front of his opposition and let his hands go. Sometimes this can become his best defense, but led to his demise in his first bout with Krusher.
Chin
Kovalev has been knocked down twice in his career, but he has risen to the occasion both times to finish the fight. He also recovered well against Pascal after taking some thunderous shots from the former champion.
Jean has a really good chin and is willing to stand and trade with the division’s best and most powerful punchers. He has been in with many great fighters throughout his career, and has only been stopped once in his career. However, that knockout came from Kovalev just last year.
Style
Kovalev is an offensive power-puncher who likes to buzz saw through his opponents. He likes to walk his opponents down utilizing a long-range aggressive style until he smells blood and can go for the finish.
Pascal is an aggressive fighter that will not hesitate to stand and trade with anyone. His fearless fighting style has kept him atop the light heavyweight division for many years.
Intangibles
Kovalev wants to leave no doubt in the minds of those who question who is the best light heavyweight in the world. He has opted to defend his titles in a rematch of the toughest bout of his career against former titleholder Jean Pascal. Not only will he be rematching the highly ranked light heavyweight, but he has agreed to do it in Pascal’s backyard once again.
Pascal refuses to take days off in the ring. His most recent bout was against former undefeated and ranked prospect Yunieski Gonzalez. After earning a decision in that bout, and handing the young up-and-comer the first loss of his career, he has decided to get right back at it against the division’s best and hardest hitter in Sergey Kovalev.
Crowd Support
Kovalev will, once again, march into enemy territory as he fights in Jean Pascal’s backyard. Also, because there is still bad blood between these two stemming from their last fight, expect the fans to be even more hostile towards the champion.
Pascal will have the clear crowd-support advantage as he fights in front of his home crowd. Expect the Canadian fans will be heavily on his side.
The Match-up:
Will Sergey let the hostile Canadian crowd get to him and his game plan?
Will Pascal improve his defense now that he is working with Freddie Roach?
Will Sergey be focused on the Pascal fight and not look ahead to other fights?
Will Pascal be able to handle The Krusher’s power this time around?

According to Main Events’ matchmaker and NABF Matchmaker of the Year, Jolene Mizzone, “The most important thing about this fight is the fact that both these fighters were willing to step back in the ring with each other again. Pascal was stopped in the last fight against Sergey and those thoughts and the power he felt have to weigh heavily on him, but he also has Freddie Roach in his corner now. Sergey got hit a lot by Pascal and it says a lot that he is willing to go right back to Pascal’s hometown to prove he is the best in the light heavyweight division. And with all the bad blood between these two, the tensions will be running high.”

About January 30
The grudge match for the unified light heavyweight world championship between Sergey Kovalev and Jean Pascal, a Vidéotron presentation in collaboration with Mise-O-Jeu, will be televised live in the United States on HBO beginning 9:45pm ET/PT. The HBO telecast will open with a ten-round match-up between Dmitry Mikhaylenko and Karim Mayfield for the vacant USBA Welterweight Title. In Canada the event will be available on pay-per-view TV, please consult with your local cable provider. The card is promoted by Main Events and InterBox in association with German Titov Promotions and Greg Cohen Promotions. Tickets are on sale on at www.evenko.ca, at Centre Bell box office and at Club de boxe Champions in Montreal.

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. 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 a boxing organization that is recognized and respected throughout the Quebec province and the world. Its goal is to promote professional boxing, locally and internationally, with talented boxers who are supervised by top-notch trainers and have access to a cutting-edge support staff. InterBox regularly promotes and presents first-rate events in cooperation with such major corporate sponsors as Vidéotron, La Cage – Brasserie sportive and Coors Light.

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Q: How is everything going in preparation for your upcoming bout with Sergey Kovalev What’s it like working with Freddie Roach for the first time?

JP: It’s been fantastic. Freddie is somebody that I’ve greatly admired from a distance for a very long time now. I’ve been following his work since the James Toney days, so I’m well aware of the difference he can make for boxers who buy into his way of doing things. Right now I’m all in and ready to once again become the light heavyweight champion of the world on January 30.

Q: What would you say to the critics who feel that you don’t deserve this fight based on your showing against Yunieski Gonzlaez?

JP: I would say that it was a very good fight that was a lot closer than it had to be, but I won the fight.

Q: Why was it a lot closer than it had to be?

JP: I’m don’t make excuses, I make big fights. In boxing things happen during a fight and you just have to bite down and keep going despite the pain. Sometimes things become more difficult than they have to be as a result of this, but when the options are quitting or keep fighting, I only see one option.

Q: Do you feel you’ve gotten the credit you deserved for taking on a hungry undefeated guy like Gonzalez instead of taking an easier preliminary bout?

JP: Not really. And what’s crazy is I didn’t have to fight him. The deal for the Kovalev rematch was done in July, so the only reason I fought him was to prove to myself that even after suffering a TKO loss I can come right back four months later and hand a tough undefeated fighter his first loss. I think that fight took a lot out of Yunieski and that showed in his last fight with Slava Shabransky.

Q: You’ve said on several occassions that you know what has to be corrected in order to defeat Kovalev. Can you elaborate on that at all?

JP: You’ll have to buy your ticket to attend at the Bell Centre or tune in on HBO to find out. I can’t give out my secrets now.

Q: Can you tell us some of the guys you’ve been sparring with?

JP: I can but then I’d have to kill you. (laughs)

Q: You took it upon yourself to voice your opinion of Kovalev. You basically said he’s not a star and that he’s a racist. Do you regret saying any of those things?

JP: Regret? I don’t regret anything I said that day. All I did was tell the truth. There is only one star in this fight and it isn’t Sergey Kovalev. When he and I fought on the same show in Vegas on July 25 it became obvious that Kovalev sells like sand in the desert. He didn’t even sell 1,000 tickets, so we all know the reason he’s coming back to Montreal is because I’m the only way he can make money. He likes to say that he likes to go to other peoples hometown and ruin them in front of their fans, but that’s a lie. He likes to go to other people’s backyard because he has no hometown of his own and couldn’t sell 2,000 tickets to save his life. And when he makes his first million dollar purse because of my great fans in Montreal, how does he thank them? He gives them the finger. Talk about classless.

Q: And as far as the racist remarks?

JP: Like I said, I don’t regret anything. It was the truth. Ismayl Sillakh told me some of the deplorable things Kovalev told him before they fought and the monkey shirt with Adonis spoke for itself. And it’s a fact that he only calls black fighters pieces of shit. The funny thing is when it comes to selling tickets, speaking in complete sentences or generating big ratings, the only piece of shit is him.

Q: Do you have a prediction?

JP: Victory. I will be prepared to go a hard twelve rounds, but if he gives me a chance to end the fight, I will take full advantage of it.
Q: How is everything going in preparation for your upcoming bout with Sergey Kovalev What’s it like working with Freddie Roach for the first time?

JP: It’s been fantastic. Freddie is somebody that I’ve greatly admired from a distance for a very long time now. I’ve been following his work since the James Toney days, so I’m well aware of the difference he can make for boxers who buy into his way of doing things. Right now I’m all in and ready to once again become the light heavyweight champion of the world on January 30.

Q: What would you say to the critics who feel that you don’t deserve this fight based on your showing against Yunieski Gonzlaez?

JP: I would say that it was a very good fight that was a lot closer than it had to be, but I won the fight.

Q: Why was it a lot closer than it had to be?

JP: I’m don’t make excuses, I make big fights. In boxing things happen during a fight and you just have to bite down and keep going despite the pain. Sometimes things become more difficult than they have to be as a result of this, but when the options are quitting or keep fighting, I only see one option.

Q: Do you feel you’ve gotten the credit you deserved for taking on a hungry undefeated guy like Gonzalez instead of taking an easier preliminary bout?

JP: Not really. And what’s crazy is I didn’t have to fight him. The deal for the Kovalev rematch was done in July, so the only reason I fought him was to prove to myself that even after suffering a TKO loss I can come right back four months later and hand a tough undefeated fighter his first loss. I think that fight took a lot out of Yunieski and that showed in his last fight with Slava Shabransky.

Q: You’ve said on several occassions that you know what has to be corrected in order to defeat Kovalev. Can you elaborate on that at all?

JP: You’ll have to buy your ticket to attend at the Bell Centre or tune in on HBO to find out. I can’t give out my secrets now.

Q: Can you tell us some of the guys you’ve been sparring with?

JP: I can but then I’d have to kill you. (laughs)

Q: You took it upon yourself to voice your opinion of Kovalev. You basically said he’s not a star and that he’s a racist. Do you regret saying any of those things?

JP: Regret? I don’t regret anything I said that day. All I did was tell the truth. There is only one star in this fight and it isn’t Sergey Kovalev. When he and I fought on the same show in Vegas on July 25 it became obvious that Kovalev sells like sand in the desert. He didn’t even sell 1,000 tickets, so we all know the reason he’s coming back to Montreal is because I’m the only way he can make money. He likes to say that he likes to go to other peoples hometown and ruin them in front of their fans, but that’s a lie. He likes to go to other people’s backyard because he has no hometown of his own and couldn’t sell 2,000 tickets to save his life. And when he makes his first million dollar purse because of my great fans in Montreal, how does he thank them? He gives them the finger. Talk about classless.

Q: And as far as the racist remarks?

JP: Like I said, I don’t regret anything. It was the truth. Ismayl Sillakh told me some of the deplorable things Kovalev told him before they fought and the monkey shirt with Adonis spoke for itself. And it’s a fact that he only calls black fighters pieces of shit. The funny thing is when it comes to selling tickets, speaking in complete sentences or generating big ratings, the only piece of shit is him.

Q: Do you have a prediction?

JP: Victory. I will be prepared to go a hard twelve rounds, but if he gives me a chance to end the fight, I will take full advantage of it.

Montreal, Quebec, Canada: Last week, Ray Robinson suffered injuries in a car accident which caused him to withdraw from his scheduled fight against undefeated welterweight Dmitry “The Mechanic” Mikhaylenko (20-0, 9 KOs). Today Karim “Hard Hitta” Mayfield (19-2-1, 11 KOs) agreed to step in and replace Robinson in the ten-round welterweight co-feature on the Saturday, Jan. 30 HBO World Championship Boxing® telecast which features the much-anticipated rematch between Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (28-0-1, 25 KOs) and Jean Pascal (30-3-1, 17 KOs) for the WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Championship. The Mikhaylenko-Mayfield bout will be for the vacant USBA Welterweight Title. The HBO telecast begins at 9:45 p.m. ET/PT.

Mikhaylenko, 29, from Gelendzhik, Russia, is co-promoted by Main Events and German Titov Promotions. “The Mechanic” is undefeated and stopped his last three opponents, including former interim super lightweight titleholder Johan Perez. This will be his second fight in Canada; he stopped Felipe De la Paz in the fifth round on the undercard of Kovalev-Pascal I.Mikhaylenko is not one to question any of his opponents. He is in shape all year round and a win against a notable, dangerous, and equally determined guy in Mayfield would be exactly what he needs to be taken seriously in this stacked welterweight division.

Mayfield, a San Francisco, California native now promoted by Greg Cohen Promotions, made his professional debut in 2006 and went undefeated for the first eight years of his professional career. After suffering back-to-back losses in his first two fights in 2014, which included a close-decision against former title contender Thomas Dulorme, he returned to defeat Michael Balasi of Hawaii in an eight-round unanimous decision victory in his last fight on Nov. 8, 2014. He has been inactive for a year but a win over a ranked Mikhaylenko will be an instant game-changer in his career, and can be the difference in getting his name back in the mix.

Main Events’ CEO, Kathy Duva, said, “We were devastated when we learned about Robinson’s accident. Very few fighters would agree to take a fight on such short notice, especially a fight which opens the HBO telecast for such a high-profile event like Kovalev-Pascal II. Mayfield, however, jumped at the opportunity. He wants to step in against an undefeated ranked prospect like Mikhaylenko in an attempt to re-establish himself as a contender. Mikhaylenko has no doubt whatsoever about his abilities inside the ring. He didn’t even blink at the change in opponents. Short notice or not, this is a great fight!”

About January 30
The grudge match for the unified light heavyweight world championship between Sergey Kovalev and Jean Pascal, a Vidéotron presentation in collaboration with Mise-O-Jeu, will be televised live in the United States on HBO beginning 9:45pm ET/PT. The HBO telecast will open with a ten-round match-up between Dmitry Mikhaylenko and Karim Mayfield for the vacant USBA Welterweight Title. In Canada the event will be available on pay-per-view TV, please consult with your local cable provider. The card is promoted by Main Events and InterBox in association with German Titov Promotions. Tickets are on sale on at www.evenko.ca, at Centre Bell box office and at Club de boxe Champions in Montreal.

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. 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 a boxing organization that is recognized and respected throughout the Quebec province and the world. Its goal is to promote professional boxing, locally and internationally, with talented boxers who are supervised by top-notch trainers and have access to a cutting-edge support staff. InterBox regularly promotes and presents first-rate events in cooperation with such major corporate sponsors as Vidéotron, La Cage – Brasserie sportive and Coors Light.

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Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev – WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion

On Pascal changing his training camp:
“What he says and what he will do in the ring is two different things.”

On his game plan for this fight:
“I don’t have any plans for the fight. We will go to the ring. A boxing fight is a street fight. No rules. It doesn’t matter what he will bring. I must be ready for anything. I don’t think about Pascal. I don’t think about what he will be. He has good motivation and he has a new coach, but I just should be ready for anything. If he will bring something better, it doesn’t matter.”

On being overconfident in the rematch:
“I am prepared the same with 100% responsible and I understand he is more motivated for this fight – more than the first one. He wants to be looking good in front of his fans in Canada but I am sure, and I know, that half of his fans shoot to my side after the last fight. He will pay for this January 30. We will see January 30 who he is. Usually who fought against me they are not going on in their careers afterwards. I didn’t destroy him because referee stopped the fight and saved his career. He forgot to say to referee thank you for saving my career. I have to finish my job. It should be a very different fight.”

On being angry at Pascal:
“This fight is personal fight. It is something personal for me. It is not everything true that he is speaking. I understand for why he is doing this. He is trying to make me angry. I am giving him a reminder. I didn’t do my job last time. I should have stopped his career.”

On his potential fight with Andre Ward:
“Andre ward is a great boxer. I am very happy he came to my division and we can make a very good fight for the fans. I want to fight with him, but now I have to stay focused on my next fight with Jean Pascal. ”

Jean Pascal – Former light heavyweight world champion

On changing trainers:
“Freddie Roach is a great coach. The big difference is he has the eye of the tiger. He sees things that other people can’t see. With his experience, he just polishes it for me. Camp is going beyond my expectations. The last ten days I was tired but now I am right back on track.”

On drug testing:
“It is just to show the world that we are in a clean sport and we are clean boxers. We can show the world that we are clean athletes. I am happy Sergey agreed to do this.”

On the early stoppage:
“Kovalev said I am talking a lot, but he is the one that is talking a lot. He says he is going to knock me out and end my career. I am still on top. I am still here. I am still selling out arenas even though I am not a champion. Sergey talks a lot. I hope this time he is going to be able to back it up.”

On John David Jackson’s comments:
“John David Jackson should mind his own business. He is not in my body and in my mind. He doesn’t know shit about me. I am still a warrior. I am still in my prime. The first fight was stopped early. Sergey was winning but I was coming back.”

On the bad blood between him and Kovalev:
“I know what I have to do to win this fight. Freddie Roach taught me what I needed to learn. The 30th I am going to apply everything that Freddie taught me. The last fight everyone was saying I need a rematch because it was Kovalev’s closest fight ever. It is going to be a good fight. The main thing for me is to stay focused.”

On why this fight will be different:
“This is all about continuing to improve myself with a new trainer, new technique and new approach. This will allow me to demonstrate a new Jean Pascal in the ring on January 30.”

On the importance of the first two rounds:
“I am not looking to make any excuses for the first couple rounds of the first fight. I am making those changes with Freddie Roach now and I do not anticipate being in the same mindset in this fight.”

On short training camp with Freddie Roach:
“I am not starting from scratch. I have many years of boxing. We are just tweaking some small mistakes to deliver big changes.”

Kathy Duva – CEO, Main Events

“We liked it so much the first time we are going to do it again. Ticket sales are beyond our projections so we are very happy. We have two great warriors who are going to create some fireworks and everyone is going to be entertained. We want to thank HBO and our good friends at Interbox. We really enjoy working with both of them.”

On whether or not Pascal deserves the rematch:
“People have short memories. Many members of the media felt he earned a rematch. That was what most people were asking when the fight ended. There are other options out there and the economics are best here. Jean Pascal is still the best available fighter willing to get in the ring with Sergey. He is coming in with Freddie Roach, which brings more to the table. Sergey and Pascal are going to give their best. We think our fighter can win and so does the Pascal side.”

“We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible next week.”

Pierre Duc – President, Interbox

“Many thanks to HBO for allowing this to happen again. Thanks to Main Events and Sergey Kovalev for coming here again to defend his titles. It is our third project in the year with Main Events. This sets an example for how promoters should be working together. Kovalev-Pascal I was nothing short of spectacular. We are expecting an even greater performance again next week. Do not miss this great evening.”

On current ticket sales:
“We were closer to what we sold on the first fight. By the time we get to the Belle Centre I think there will be about 9,000 fans in the building.”

“We wish all the best for the two fighters. May the best man win. Those who are going to be watching are going to be given a phenomenal night. Looking forward to seeing everyone on January 30.”

John David Jackson – Trainer, Kovalev

“When we talk about the first fight, we talk about the mistakes that were made. This is a grudge match. It isn’t hard to get him motivated. Now we need to cross all the T’s and dot all the I’s. The fight with Gonzalez on the last card, Pascal looked shot. I don’t see much more he can do. He is going to have to make a dog fight in the ring to stand with Sergey.”

“Pascal may not be the same fighter that he once was but he is still dangerous. Sergey is ready and motivated. He wants to make a statement with this fight. No shortcomings on our side. We will be ready come fight night.”

On Freddie Roach:
“It could make a difference. It depends on the student you have. I don’t know if Pascal can do that. He has been around for a while and has been a champion. How much can Freddie teach him in one fight? It usually takes me three or four fights to really work out all the kinks with a fighter.”

Freddie Roach – Trainer, Pascal

On changes made with Pascal in this training camp:
“He is boxing a lot better. We are shortening the combinations up. He is definitively ready to fight. You will see a much better fighter this time around. It is a short amount of time. Jean has picked it up quickly. His power is still there also. If he fights smart, he can win this fight.”

On the importance of the earlier rounds:
“We don’t want him to fall into his old style and lay on the ropes. Jean Pascal doesn’t work with Roy Jones anymore because Pascal is better than Jones.”

About January 30
The grudge match for the unified light heavyweight world championship between Sergey Kovalev and Jean Pascal, a Vidéotron presentation in collaboration with Mise-O-Jeu, will be televised live in the United States on HBO beginning 9:45pm ET/PT. In Canada the event will be available on pay-per-view TV, please consult with your local cable provider. The card is promoted by Main Events and InterBox in association with German Titov Promotions. Tickets are on sale on at www.evenko.ca, at Centre Bell box office and at Club de boxe Champions in Montreal.

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. 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 a boxing organization that is recognized and respected throughout the Quebec province and the world. Its goal is to promote professional boxing, locally and internationally, with talented boxers who are supervised by top-notch trainers and have access to a cutting-edge support staff. InterBox regularly promotes and presents first-rate events in cooperation with such major corporate sponsors as Vidéotron, La Cage – Brasserie sportive and Coors Light.

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Jean Pascal – Former World Champion

On working with Freddie Roach
“I like Freddie. Freddie is a good man. He is a great boxing coach. One thing that I like about Freddie is he is a coach who like to listen. He is gonna ask me question. He is going to try to see my point of view. He gonna explain to me his point of view. He has a good ear. He has great experience and that is the quality of a good coach. I am my own boss. I need a partner. Freddie is the right partner right now. I am a veteran. I went to the Olympics. I became world champion. I am about to become two-time world champion in a few weeks. I need more like a partner to evolve than a boss.”

Jean Pascal
Photo Credits: Craig Bennett/Main Events

On Kovalev-Pascal I
“A few things went wrong but they were very like minor details. Right now we have corrected those mistakes so I can be victorious on Jan. 30. My mental [attitude] is very strong. I am physically strong. I am very confident. I am well-prepared physically and mentally. Freddie has the eye of the tiger. He see things. That is the goal right now to correct my small mistakes that I did on the first fight. That is why I think this time around I am going to be victorious.”

Jean Pascal Stretches Before His Workout
Photo Credits: Craig Bennett/Main Events

Jean Pascal’s Trainer – Freddie roach

On the game plan for this fight:
“The same strategy won’t work. Both guys have smartened up. Maybe the fight was stopped too soon but referees are there for a reason, to protect the fighter and so forth. We’re not going to blame the referee at all. In world title fights I think there is a little more judgment or a little more give because it is a world title fight but I don’t see how that could even get close to happening in this fight because his boxing ability is really, really good. That is what I intend for him to do.”

Freddie Roach Takes Questions from the Media
Photo Credits: Craig Bennett/Main Events

On Kovalev-Pascal I and the stoppage:
“I thought he fought a poor fight. I thought he was looking for a knockout too much and he can’t do that. You go out there and box. Use your boxing ability. Beat this guy every round at a time. If a knockout comes that’s a bonus. He totally understands that. I told him if you go out there and start swinging for the fences and get real wild like you can do at times when you get back to the corner I won’t be there. I’m going to go home. I said, ‘Don’t embarrass me like that.” You are a professional fighter. You know how to box. Go out there and outbox this guy.’ That’s the biggest game plan for me.”

About January 30
The grudge match for the unified light heavyweight world championship between Sergey Kovalev and Jean Pascal, a Vidéotron presentation in collaboration with Mise-O-Jeu, will be televised live in the United States on HBO beginning 9:45pm ET/PT. In Canada the event will be available on pay-per-view TV, please consult with your local cable provider. The card is promoted by Main Events and InterBox in association with German Titov Promotions. Tickets are on sale on at www.evenko.ca, at Centre Bell box office and at Club de boxe Champions in Montreal.

Kovalev-Pascal II Promo
Kovalev-Pascal II Promo

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. 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 a boxing organization that is recognized and respected throughout the Quebec province and the world. Its goal is to promote professional boxing, locally and internationally, with talented boxers who are supervised by top-notch trainers and have access to a cutting-edge support staff. InterBox regularly promotes and presents first-rate events in cooperation with such major corporate sponsors as Vidéotron, La Cage – Brasserie sportive and Coors Light.

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Welterweight Ray Robinson was injured in a car accident and will not be able to compete in his January 30 bout with Dmitry Mikhaylenko that was to be televised on HBO as the co-feature to the rematch of Sergey Kovalev and Jean Pascal in Montreal, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

“He hurt his back. He’s in pain even when he tries to sit down,” said Robinson’s promoter Russell Peltz said. “It’s a real bummer. This was a big fight for Ray.

MONTREAL, January 8th 2016 – Main Events and InterBox are proud to offer to boxing fans a quality card with a championship flair this January 30 at the Bell Centre. The event, which will feature the unified light heavyweight world championship grudge match between WBA, WBO and IBF title holder Sergey Kovalev and former world champion Jean Pascal, will also put two other titles on the line : Dmitry Mikhaylenko against Ray Robinson for the USBA welterweight belt as well as Renan St-Juste against Francis Lafrenière for the International IBF middleweight title.

“We asked our team to put together a balanced and diverse card that would showcase our up-and-coming talent,” said InterBox Vice President Pierre Duc.

To kick the evening off, Quebec-based hard puncher Steven ‘Bang Bang’ Butler (13-0-1, 11 K.O.) will meet against Angola’s Antonio Hoffmann (13-0, 9 K.O.). Just like Eye of the Tiger Management’s young local rookie, Hoffman is a fierce competitor who has a devastating punch and is quite gifted technically.

“I am presently in camp in the United States for my bout against Hoffman and I am in great shape,” said Butler. “I’m pumped for this fight and I look forward to it, as well as to all the challenges 2016 will bring me. I have lofty goals and I intend to impress the crowd at Bell Centre on January 30.”

After another impressive performance in front of his fans where he beat Quebec-based boxer Frank Cotroni in spectacular fashion, Sorel’s David Théroux (8-1, 5 K.O.) will be back in the Bell Centre ring on January 30 to face Mexican boxer Juan Armando Garcia (12-2-2, 5 K.O.) in a six-round middleweight bout.

Théroux said he is thrilled to fight on the undercard of the unified world championship grudge match between Sergey Kovalev and Jean Pascal: “Their first fight was a memorable night for me and a great number of boxing fans considering the quality of the fights that were scheduled that night and the electric atmosphere there was in the building! I am confident I will put on a good show on January 30 because my opponent, Juan Armando Garcia, is a tough fighter who does not shy away from challenges.”

For his part, Sébastien Bouchard (11-1, 4 K.O.) will be back in action to fight Poland’s Damian Mielewczky (9-1, 7 K.O.) at 160 pounds.

The grudge match for the unified light heavyweight world championship between Sergey ‘Krusher’ Kovalev and Jean Pascal, a Vidéotron presentation in collaboration with Mise-O-Jeu, will be televised live in the United States on HBO World Championship Boxing ® beginning 9:45pm ET/PT. The HBO telecast will open with a 10-round welterweight contest between Dmitry Mikhaylenko and Ray Robinson. In Canada the event will be available on pay-per-view TV, please consult with your local cable provider. The card is promoted by Main Events and InterBox in association with German Titov Promotions. Tickets are on sale on at www.evenko.ca, at Centre Bell box office and at Club de boxe Champions in Montreal.

Montreal, Quebec, Canada: Undefeated welterweight prospect Dmitry “The Mechanic” Mikhaylenko (20-0, 9 KOs) will look to make his mark in the wide-open welterweight division against southpaw Ray “The New Ray Robinson” Robinson (20-2, 9 KOs) in the opening 10-round bout of the Kovalev-Pascal II HBO World Championship Boxing event Saturday, Jan. 30 live from the Centre Bell in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The telecast begins at 9:45 pm ET/PT live on HBO®.

Mikhaylenko, 29, from Gelendzhik, Russia, is co-promoted by Main Events and German Titov Promotions. “The Mechanic” is undefeated and stopped his last three opponents, including former interim super lightweight titleholder Johan Perez. This will be his second fight in Canada; he stopped Felipe De la Paz in the fifth round on the undercard of Kovalev-Pascal I.

Dmitry Mikhaylenko

Dmitry said, “I am excited to be on HBO and back in Canada. This is a big fight for me; I am looking to get my name in the hunt at the top of the welterweight division. I am also excited to be opening for my countryman, Sergey Kovalev. I hope to put on a great show.”

Robinson, also 29, is a tough southpaw from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania who has not lost a fight in over five years. He has won his last nine fights in a row, five of them by way of knockout. In his last fight he defended his NABO Welterweight Title with a ten-round unanimous decision victory over Sherzodbek Alimjanov back in April of this year.

“Success comes with a price,” said Robinson. “I paid my dues. Jan. 30 will be another step closer to my dreams.”

Ray Robinson
Ray Robinson

According to Kathy Duva, CEO of Main Events, “These are the kinds of fights that fans want to see. In the stacked welterweight division these are two ranked fighters, both in the prime of their careers, looking to make their mark. Dmitry continues to impress us as he has quietly worked his way through the ranks of the division. He is willing to stand and trade punches with anyone and has proven on numerous occasions that with his high punch output he ready for anything.”

German Titov, Mikhaylenko’s co-promoter added, “We have put on a lot of great shows with Main Events. I am excited to collaborate on another top-tier event. Mikhaylenko is hungry to make a name for himself in one of the most competitive divisions in boxing and a win over a ranked fighter like Robinson will go a long way towards achieving that goal.”

About January 30
The grudge match for the unified light heavyweight world championship between Sergey Kovalev and Jean Pascal, a Vidéotron presentation in collaboration with Mise-O-Jeu, will be televised live in the United States on HBO beginning 9:45pm ET/PT as well as on pay-per-view TV in Canada. The card is promoted by Main Events and Interbox in association with German Titov Promotions. Tickets are on sale on at www.evenko.ca, at the Bell Centre box office and at Club de boxe Champions in Montreal.

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. 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 a boxing organization that is recognized and respected throughout the Quebec province and the world. Its goal is to promote professional boxing, locally and internationally, with talented boxers who are supervised by top-notch trainers and have access to a cutting-edge support staff. InterBox regularly promotes and presents first-rate events in cooperation with such major corporate sponsors as Vidéotron, La Cage – Brasserie sportive and Coors Light.

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MONTREAL, December 18, 2015 – Main Events and InterBox are excited to unveil the first bout between two local fighters that will be on the undercard of the unified light heavyweight world championship fight between the holder of IBF, WBA and WBO titles Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev and former world champion Jean Pascal on January 30 at the Bell Centre. Indeed, both promoters are happy to announce to boxing fans from the province of Quebec a long-awaited confrontation between Canadian middleweight champion Francis Lafrenière (10-5-2, 6 K.O.) and veteran boxer Renan St-Juste (26-4-1, 18 K.O.) for the IBF International middleweigth belt.

Renan St-Juste said he couldn’t wait to go into the ring on January 30 : “I’ve beaten all the Quebec-based boxers in my weight division except two : David Lemieux and Francis Lafrenière. The latter, who has improved a lot recently and has moved up significantly in world rankings, was the next one on my list. He’s a good warrior and I will definitely not underestimate him. But it will be a first for him at Bell Centre and he will be facing an experienced boxer.”

Lafrenière, who has a perfect record in his last seven bouts, is not intimidated by his opponent’s experience : “I’ve been lucky enough to train with several talented fighters, including Lucian Bute, David Lemieux, Georges St-Pierre and Eleider Alvarez. I’ve learned a whole lot and I’m ready for this next challenge, which has already created a buzz. On January 30 at Bell Centre, not only will it be personal between Sergey Kovalev and Jean Pascal; it will also be the case for Renan St-Juste and I.”

“We’re aiming to give boxing fans a fight card that will highlight the great talent level our local boxers have. We are therefore working very hard on the undercard, which should be unveiled in full soon,” said InterBox Vice President Pierre Duc.

The grudge match for the unified light heavyweight world championship between Sergey Kovalev and Jean Pascal, a Vidéotron presentation in collaboration with Mise-O-Jeu, will be broadcast live in the United States by HBO as well as on pay-per-view TV in Canada. Tickets are now on sale on the evenko network at www.evenko.ca, at the Bell Centre box office and at Club de boxe Champions in Montreal.

For more information,
visit www.MainEvents.com, www.interbox.ca/en/home, www.KovalevBoxer.com, www.JeanPascalBoxing.com and www.hbo.com/boxing. Follow on Twitter @Main_Events, @KrusherKovalev, @interboxca, @JeanPascalChamp, @HBOBoxing and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MainEventsBoxing, www.facebook.com/interbox, or www.facebook.com/HBOBoxing.

Visit us at Instagram @Main_Events and @HBOBoxing. Use the hashtag #KovalevPascal2 to take part in discussions on Twitter.

v

MONTREAL, November 30, 2015 – Although the fight is still two months away, there was already tension between unified light heavyweight title holder Sergey Kovalev and former world champion Jean Pascal at Monday’s press conference held at Bell Centre’s La Cage – Brasserie Sportive. Main Events and InterBox formally announce the rematch for the Unified WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Championship set to take place on Saturday, January 30 at Bell Centre. The event will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing beginning at 9:45 p.m. ET/PT.

While Pascal (30-3-1, 17 K.-O.), the former WBC, IBO and The Ring light heavyweight world champion, vowed to surprise Kovalev (28-0-1, 25 K.-O.), who is the current WBO and IBF light heavyweight world title holder, as well as the WBA Super World light heavyweight champ, the Canadian boxer also said that he would “teach him respect, and to respect Canadian boxing fans”.

Earlier this year, on March 14 at Montreal’s Bell Centre, Kovalev beat Pascal by TKO in the 8th round. But Pascal’s side said the 35-year-old Quebec-based boxer would make amends this time around.

“Jean Pascal put Sergey Kovalev in trouble in several rounds in the first bout, and I’m convinced he will be even better this time around,” said InterBox President Jean Bédard. “We’re in for a great fight and that’s why it didn’t take much time for HBO to decide to broadcast this rematch.”

Jean Pascal stated, “I put him down in the 8th round in the first fight, but they called it a slip. But I promise you that Kovalev is going to have a full plate in the rematch. I’m going to have a full plate as well, but I have a new trainer (Freddie Roach), I’ve changed things, I’ve improved in ways that Kovalev cannot even imagine. I’m going to break up the party, I’m going to teach him respect, and to respect Canadian boxing fans.”

“I’m not a talker, I’m a fighter,” responded Kovalev. “I’m will make him close his mouth once and for all on January 30.”

“Not many boxers have agreed to step into the ring with Krusher a second time, so Pascal must be respected for showing the guts to do it,” said Egis Klimas, Kovalev’s manager. “So even though I don’t agree with much of what Pascal says, I respect the warrior that he is.”

Tickets go on sale this Friday at 2:00 p.m. ET. Visit www.evenko.ca.

Like the first fight, the rematch will take place on Pascal’s turf and is expect to attract a large crowd at Bell Centre.

“Krusher likes to fight in his opponent’s city because he loves to disappoint the opposing boxer’s fans,” said Kathy Duva, CEO of Main Events, Kovalev’s promoter.

Since the first Kovalev-Pascal fight, Kovalev beat Nadjib Mohammedi (37-4-0, 23 KO) by knock-out in the third round on July 25 in Las Vegas, while Pascal beat Yunieski Gonzalez (16-1-0, 12 KO) by unanimous decision in 10 rounds while fighting on the same card.

Pascal said he will leave home for the next two months to prepare in the United States for the January 30 fight. He will spend part of his camp south of the border with Freddie Roach, his new trainer.

“It will be a sacrifice to spend Christmas and New Year’s Day away from my loved ones, but it will be worth it. I’ll be celebrating the New Year with style on February 1st!”

“This time around, preventing Kovalev from going ahead with combinations will be key. That will be part of my game plan,” said Pascal.

“I will give it my all, I will apply all the skills I have and put them into this fight,” said Kovalev.

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. 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 a boxing organization that is recognized and respected throughout the Quebec province and the world. Its goal is to promote professional boxing, locally and internationally, with talented boxers who are supervised by top-notch trainers and have access to a cutting-edge support staff. InterBox regularly promotes and presents first-rate events in cooperation with such major corporate sponsors as Vidéotron, La Cage – Brasserie sportive and Coors Light.

OFFICIAL HASHTAG:
#KovalevPascal

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There is no rest for the highly motivated and driven. On August 27th Sullivan Barrera (16-0 11 KO’s) will return to the high altitude of Big Bear, Calif. to resume training under the guidance of Abel Sanchez.

Barrera is hoping for a quick return to the ring after his 8 round destruction of Hakim Zoulikha on July 25th at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.

On the same card former champion Jean Pascal won a controversial decision over Yuniesky Gonzalez and Barrera still wants revenge for his compatriot.

“I called Pascal out after he got a gift against my boy Yuniesky. He knows he lost that fight. I don’t know why this guy continues to duck me. Is he scared of all Cubans now? Pascal I’m waiting for you papa. Glove up,” said Barrera.

The former Cuban standout is willing to face any top 10 contender but has his sites clearly focused on Pascal.

“Is Pascal going to be a coward and just wait for a Kovalev rematch? No one thought you beat Yuniesky. Fight me to prove you deserve a Kovalev rematch. He already knocked you out so it’s not like that fight is in high demand. You can earn the rematch by winning a real fight. I already said I would go to Canada so man up,” Barrera stated.

This past Saturday night Sullivan Barrera improved his record to 16-0 with 11 knockouts when he stopped Hakim Zoulikha in the 8th round of their fight at the Mandalay Events Center. On the same card, former champion Jean Pascal won a hard fought decision over Yunieksy Gonzalez of Cuba.

Barrera has been looking for a big fight and after taking a short rest, he plans to return to Big Bear and resume training with Abel Sanchez.

“I wanted to fight Pascal and after he beat my countryman I want to fight him even more. I proved once again with my fight against Zoulikha that I will stand and trade and put on a show for the fans. I want Pascal next,” said Barrera.

The 33-year-old Barrera suffered a nasty head butt that required stitches but should be ready to return to the ring before the end of the year. He said that he wants Pascal next and is willing to travel to make the fight happen.

“I have no problem going to Canada. November, December, whenever Pascal is ready to fight I am here to prove I an the best light heavyweight and get the victory for Cuba and all of the Latinos.

“Pascal ducked me once so let’s see if he takes my challenge this time. Let’s do it in Montreal on HBO. I’m not worried about the judges. I am knocking him out,” Barrera stated.

Light heavyweight champ Sergey Kovalev, who has been on the fast track collecting title belts the past two years, makes his Las Vegas debut when WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING: SERGEY KOVALEV VS. NADJIB MOHAMMEDI AND JEAN PASCAL VS. YUNIESKY GONZALEZ is seen SATURDAY, JULY 25 at 10:00 p.m. (live ET/tape-delayed PT) from the Mandalay Bay Events Center, exclusively on HBO. The HBO Sports team of Jim Lampley, Max Kellerman, Bernard Hopkins and Harold Lederman 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: July 26 (9:15 a.m.) and 27 (midnight)

HBO2 playdates: July 26 (4:30 p.m.) and 28 (11:30 p.m.)

In the main event, undefeated Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (27-0-1, 24 KOs) of Kopeysk, Russia, now living and training in Los Angeles, defends his crown against intriguing mandatory challenger Nadjib Mohammedi (37-3, 23 KOs) from France in a 12-round bout. The fast-rising, hard-hitting Kovalev has taken the 175-pound division by storm with a sizzling knockout ratio and a willingness to battle top-tier fighters, even when his opponent has a decided home crowd advantage. In the past two years, he’s decisively beaten Nathan Cleverly, Cedric Agnew, ring legend Bernard Hopkins and Canadian superstar Jean Pascal. 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. This bout marks his seventh HBO appearance.

In his U.S. debut last November, Mohammedi scored a stunning first-round knockout of Demetrius Walker on the undercard of Kovalev-Hopkins. He will train for his HBO debut against Kovalev at Big Bear Lake in California.

The opening bout features former light heavyweight champion Jean Pascal (29-3-1, 17 KOs) of Quebec, Canada, and undefeated Cuban-born Yuniesky Gonzalez (16-0, 12 KOs) from Miami, Florida in a 175-pound contest scheduled for ten rounds. Pascal, who previously lost by TKO to Kovalev, wants another shot at the light heavyweight title, and defeating Gonzalez should bring him that opportunity. This fight marks Pascal’s first bout outside his home country since 2008 and his fifth HBO appearance.

Gonzalez, who had a successful amateur career in Cuba, aims to disrupt Pascal’s plans with his knockout power, which has stopped his last three opponents before the end of the third round. He’ll be making his HBO debut.

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

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

Las Vegas, NV: On July 25, 2015 former light heavyweight world champion, Jean Pascal (29-3-1, 17 KOs) will take on undefeated prospect Yuniesky Gonzalez (16-0, 12 KOs) as the co-feature to the HBO World Championship Boxing telecast of the Sergey Kovalev vs. Nadjib Mohammedi fight live from Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada. Pascal is fresh off his first loss in almost four years and is looking to take on the undefeated Cuban prospect. Below is the scouting report for this exciting match-up:

Category
Jean Pascal
Yuniesky Gonzalez
Age
32
30
Record
29-3-1 (17 KOs)
16-0-0 (12 KOs)
Strength
Pascal possesses good speed and power in both hands; he also has a solid chin and a ton of experience. He has been competing against the division’s top fighters since 2008, which is a list that includes Bernard Hopkins twice and the division’s top light heavyweight, Sergey Kovalev.
Gonzalez has good power and has the ability to distribute punishment throughout his fights. He overwhelms his opponents before finishing them off. He is a very good inside fighter and fights with great confidence too.
Weakness
Pascal has a tendency to tire out late in fights if he does not conserve his energy properly in the earlier rounds. He also tends to get sloppy, which could cause his defense to open up a bit.
Gonzalez lacks adequate experience and has not fought top-level opposition yet. This fight against Pascal will be a major step up in competition and could be a game-changer in his young career.
Experience
Jean will have the advantage here. He has been a part of eight major title fights and holds victories over both Chad Dawson and Lucian Bute. He also currently has more than two-times as many professional bouts (32) as Gonzalez (16).
Gonzalez will be at a disadvantage. He has yet to face any top level opposition, nor has he had even half the amount of professional bouts as Pascal.

Power
Pascal has good power in both hands, especially when he puts his punches together. He has a right hand that can be a game-changer in any fight if he lands it flush.
Yuniesky possesses good power in both hands; he has a left hook that can change the direction of any fight if landed clean.
Speed
Pascal is quick, which becomes more evident in his flurries of punches, which are usually put together when he has his opponent against the ropes and he goes for the finish.
Yuniesky has good hand speed that is put on full display when he finds a weakness in his opponent. He fights very well on the inside, where his punches are fast, short, and crisp.
Endurance
Pascal will have an advantage here as he has gone 12 rounds on eight separate occasions.
Gonzalez’s endurance is still in question, he has yet to go a full 12 rounds and has only gone ten rounds once in his career (in 2012).
Accuracy
Pascal may be at a slight disadvantage in terms of accuracy, he tends to get sloppy at times when unloading flurries of punches.
Gonzalez may have a slight advantage as his accuracy becomes more evident when fighting on the inside. Then he uses his accurate body work in hopes of setting up his left hook upstairs.
Defense
Pascal likes to dictate the pace of the fight, which can mean standing in the center and trading blows. This is a tactic that allows him to take shots and leave openings in his defense that he should avoid.
Yuniesky’s offense might be his best defense. He likes to come forward and walk his opponents down, looking to break them down and finish the fight.
Chin
Pascal has a solid chin and has been in wars with some heavy-handed punchers. However, he was stopped for the first time in his career in his most recent outing against the division’s heaviest hitter, Sergey Kovalev.
Gonzalez’s chin is still yet to be seen; he has finished nine of his 16 fights by the third round. If this fight gets into the later rounds, then his chin may become an issue.
Style
Jean is an aggressive fighter who will not hesitate to stand and trade with anyone if given the opportunity.
Yuniesky is an offensive fighter who likes to move forward at all times; he tries to finish all of his opponents – and finish them early.
Crowd Support
Pascal is a popular name in the sport of boxing, so he will probably have most of the support from the fans in attendance.
Although Yuniesky is an undefeated power puncher, he is still a bit unknown to the boxing world. However, his in-your-face style could win over some of the crowd as he fights Pascal with a very similar and exciting style.
Intangibles
After coming off a tough and hard-fought defeat against the division’s best fighter, Sergey Kovalev, Pascal opted to make a quick turnaround and get right back in the ring. Instead of a tune-up bout, he will test his skills against a young, undefeated power puncher in Yunieski Gonzalez.
Gonzalez has taken a very quiet road to becoming the IBF’s #15 light heavyweight contender. Rather than test his skills against someone deeper in the ranks, he will face a former light heavyweight titleholder, and current top ten ranked light heavyweight, Jean Pascal.
The Match-Up
Is this too big of a stage for Gonzalez to handle in his toughest test to date?
Will Pascal be able to take Gonzalez’s power and speed?
This is the fight where Gonzalez can make a big statement in the light heavyweight division, will he?
Will Pascal be scared to get hit after his last fight with Kovalev?

According to Main Events’ matchmaker Jolene Mizzone who was recently named the NABF Matchmaker of the Year, “If Gonzalez pulls the upset with Pascal he would enter one of the top divisions in boxing as new blood, which would make it very interesting for the entire division. I think any light heavyweight fight that is made is very important in boxing right now because it is a hot division that needs some hungry up-and-coming guys.”

About Kovalev vs. Mohammedi

WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (27-0-1, 24 KOs) will compete in his first mandatory title defense against Nadjib “Irondjib” Mohammedi (37-3, 23 KOs) on Saturday, July 25 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas, Nevada. The co-feature will include a ten-round light heavyweight match-up between Jean Pascal (29-3-1, 17 KOs) and Yuniesky Gonzalez (16-0, 12 KOs). Tickets are on sale now and start at $25. Tickets can be purchased through TicketMaster and all MGM Resorts Properties Ticket Offices. The HBO World Championship Boxing® telecast begins at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Sergey Kovalev’s Greatest Hits
Sergey Kovalev’s Greatest Hits

Hey Harold!: Kovalev vs. Mohammedi
Hey Harold!: Kovalev vs. Mohammedi

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Former amateur standout Sullivan Barrera (15-0) is in the final stages of his training camp for his July 25th showdown against once beaten Vasily Lepikhin for the USABA light heavyweight strap. The fight will take place at the Mandalay Bay Events Center under the bright lights of the Las Vegas strip.

Sullivan has tried to land fights against Isaac Chilemba (the only person to beat Lipikhin), Jean Pascal and other top fighters in the division but so far all of his efforts have been rebuffed. He plans on defeating Lepikhin in such a dominating manner that HBO will force some of these top fighters to face him.

“I’m tired of these guys ducking me. The best should fight the best. That’s what made boxing great but none of these guys will fight me. I respect Lepikhin for getting in the ring with me. After I destroy him hopefully HBO and the fans will take notice and demand that these guys fight me. I am ready for any of the top fighters,” Barrera stated.

While proud of his Cuban roots, Barrera wants to make it known that he is a versatile fighter and can adapt to any style to win in dominant fashion. All Barrera needs is for a top 10 contender to accept a fight with him.

“I am Cuban and proud of the Cuban school and with Abel Sanchez in my corner, I have the best of both worlds. I can box. I can bang. I can do it all. I’ve called out all of these guys and and we are ready to make a deal to face them.

“All I need is the opportunity and after I showcase my skills on the 25th, I hope to get my opportunity to face a top opponent. Pascal, Chilemba, Seanie Monaghan and any of the champions are all on my radar. We really pushed hard to get Pascal but he had no interest in fighting me,” said Barrera.

Las Vegas, NV: Main Events, InterBox and Jean Pascal Promotions are proud to announce Jean Pascal (29-3-1, 17 KOs) will face Yunieski Gonzalez (16-0, 12 KOs) in the ten-round co-feature of the Kovalev-Mohammedi Unified Light Heavyweight World Championship fight on July 25 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada. Both fights will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing® beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Pascal, the former WBC Light Heavyweight World Champion, looks to prove he is still a force to be reckoned with in the light heavyweight division by taking on a young undefeated prospect in Gonzalez. This will be his first fight outside his adopted home country of Canada since 2008 and his third fight in seven months. The 32-year old is originally from Port-au-Prince, Haiti and currently resides in Laval, Quebec, Canada.

“I’m eager to get back in the ring,” said Pascal. “The years where I have been very active are the ones that I’ve performed the best. Gonzalez is a good fighter and everybody knows I am not content with fighting just a regular fighter. I’m already back in the gym and focusing on July 25.”

Pascal will face a big challenge from his opponent, undefeated Cuban prospect Yunieski Gonzalez. Yunieski has a stellar 75% knockout-to-win ratio and has stopped his last seven opponents in a row dating all the way back to 2012. His previous three fights have not lasted past the third round and two of those were first-round stoppages. The 29-year old is originally from Cuba and now makes his home in Miami, Florida.

“This is the fight I have been waiting for,” said a confident Gonzalez. “I’m not punching at him, I’m punching through him and when I’m done with him he won’t be any good for anyone else.”

Main Events’ CEO, Kathy Duva, is excited to work with Pascal and InterBox again. She said, “Kovalev and Pascal are both true warriors in the sense that they are always willing to face the very best. So putting them on the same card made a lot of sense for us and for the fans who will get to see both of them bring their electricity to the same ring again. With Pascal there is never a dull moment in the ring and, as proof that he never backs away from a challenge, this time he steps up to face a talented, hungry undefeated contender who has the ability to knock out anyone he faces.”

“For his third fight in less than a year for Jean Pascal, this is a great opportunity and challenge for him,” said Jean Bédard, President of InterBox. “Gonzalez had a phenomenal amateur career and his professional career seems to follow the same direction. It’s always a pleasure to work with Kathy Duva and Main Events.”

Greg Leon, CEO of Jean Pascal Promotions, added, “Jean Pascal Promotions is thrilled to be back on HBO for the second time in four months. Yunieski Gonzalez is a talented fighter and a formidable challenge but I have no doubt Jean Pascal will be far too much for him.”

Joe DeGuardia of Star Boxing, Gonzalez’s promoter, said “I am thrilled to be on to such a sensational HBO card filled with light heavyweight bangers. We are very high on Yunieski Gonzalez and this is the kind of fight that he needs to propel him to the top of the light heavyweight division.”

Tickets priced at $300, $200, $100, $50 and $25, not including applicable tax and service fees, are on sale now and are available at all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (select Smith’s Food and Drug Centers and Ritmo Latino). To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also are available for purchase at www.mandalaybay.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

Undercard information will be announced shortly.

About Kovalev vs. Mohammedi

WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (27-0-1, 24 KOs) will compete in his first mandatory title defense against Nadjib “Irondjib” Mohammedi (37-3, 23 KOs) on Saturday, July 25 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas, Nevada. The co-feature will include a ten-round light heavyweight match-up between Jean Pascal (29-3-1, 17 KOs) and Yunieski Gonzalez (16-0, 12 KOs). Tickets are on sale now and start at $25. Tickets can be purchased through TicketMaster and all MGM Resorts Properties Ticket Offices. The HBO World Championship Boxing® telecast begins at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

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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.

Montreal, Quebec, Canada: On Saturday March 14, Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (26-0-1, 23 KOs) will defend his WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Titles against Jean Pascal (29-2-1, 17 KOs) at the Centre Belle in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Kovalev is known for his knockout power, but he is travelling to the lion’s den to face Pascal on his home turf. Pascal, a former world champion, is known for his great chin – he’s never been knocked down. Below is the scouting report for this explosive match-up:

Category
Sergey “The Krusher” Kovalev
Jean Pascal
Age
31
32
Record
26-0-1 (23 KOs)
29-2-1 (17 KOs)
Strength
Kovalev possesses knockout power in both hands; he has the ability to end a fight with any punch he throws. He is able to physically break his opponents down throughout the bout. He cuts the ring off very well.
Pascal is quick when he puts his punches together and has power in both hands. Having never been knocked down, he has a really good chin. He has been competing against the division’s top fighters since 2008, before Sergey even made his pro debut.
Weakness
Kovalev tends to leave openings in his guard allowing himself to be hit. He has been knocked down before but not hurt.
Pascal has only fought two rounds in the last 14 months, which may cause him to experience some ring rust. He has a tendency to tire out late in fights, so he could run into a problem if he does not conserve his energy properly. He has a tendency to let his opponents get into his head. In his second fight with Hopkins, he was noticeably rattled when Bernard started doing push-ups in the ring prior to the seventh round.
Experience
Kovalev may be at a slight disadvantage here since Pascal has fought more top-level opposition.
Pascal has been in seven major title fights, and holds victories over Chad Dawson and Lucian Bute.
Power
Kovalev has unbelievable power in both hands, he throws every punch with bad intentions, and puts together effective combinations.
Although he has power when he puts his punches together, he will be at a disadvantage here when paired up against Kovalev’s power.
Speed
Kovalev has average speed that picks up once he smells blood in the water and goes for the knockout.
Pascal’s speed becomes more noticeable during his flurries of punches; he really turns it on when he knows he has his opponent hurt and can possibly finish the fight.
Endurance
Sergey proved he could go the distance when he went 12 rounds for the first time in his most recent bout against the legendary Bernard Hopkins.
Pascal may have the advantage here as he has gone 12 rounds on eight different occasions.
Accuracy
Sergey demonstrated great accuracy with his one punch knockouts. He also throws very accurate and powerful body shots.
Pascal will be at a disadvantage here. He does not utilize his jab at times and tends to get wild when unloading flurries of punches.
Defense
Sergey’s main focus is his offense; there are times when his offense is so effective that it becomes his best defense.
Pascal does not move around the ring well. He likes to stand in front of his opponents and let his aggressiveness overwhelm them, which sometimes may be his best defense.
Chin
Kovalev has been knocked down twice in his career, but he has risen to the occasion both times and come back with the victory.
Jean has a really good chin and is willing to stand and trade with the division’s best and most powerful punchers. He has never been knocked down.
Style
Kovalev is an offensive fighter who likes to walk his opponents down and go in for the finish.
Pascal is an athletic, aggressive fighter that will not hesitate to go for the finish if given the opportunity.
Intangibles
Rather than take some more time off or settle for a tune-up bout after his title unification win over Bernard Hopkins, Sergey is taking on the division’s number one contender who has never been stopped and that held the light heavyweight crown from 2009-2011. Bernard Hopkins tried in vain to get into Sergey’s head but the Krusher was immune to his head games.
After his last bout ended in a controversial no contest midway into the 2nd round, Pascal has decided to waste no time at all and challenge the division’s scariest puncher and current WBO, WBA, and IBF titleholder Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev.

Crowd Support
Kovalev will be at a disadvantage here since he is fighting in Jean Pascal’s backyard.
Pascal will have an advantage here as he will be fighting in front of his home crowd where he has fought in his previous 11 bouts.
The Match-up
Will Pascal be able to take Kovalev’s power?
Will Kovalev be able to cut off the ring from the awkward Pascal?
Will Pascal’s ring rust be a factor in this fight?
Sergey went 12 rounds for the first time in his career in his last fight against Bernard Hopkins. Will that be a factor in this fight?
Was their scuffle at the final press conference on Wednesday an indication that one of them is winning the mental fight? If so, which one?

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.

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.

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