By Vadim Pushkin

WBA/IBF/WBO light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev (29-0-1, 26KOs) is not counting his chickens before they hatch.

A deal is in place for Kovalev to fight Olympic gold medal winner Andre Ward (28-0, 15KOs) in November.

Before that can happen, Ward has to win two interim-fights and Kovalev has to win an upcoming fight in the summer. Kovalev retained his titles last month with a TKO of Jean Pascal in their rematch which took place in Montreal, Canada.

Since arriving in Russia, fans are swarming Kovalev with questions about the fall fight with Ward.

The champion explained that he's not getting anxious or excited until the time comes and everything contractually falls into place.

"I'm not getting hung up on this fight, because I realize that I have some way to go [before it happens]. The conditions are - I need to win an interim fight, which will be in the summer. Ward also needs to win two fights because he did not box in almost a year. According to the contract we have, that fight is scheduled for November, and before him we would have two fights. He has not had one yet, and I've already had one. So we both need to win two fights to meet in the fall," Kovalev said.

"[If one of us loses], our fight will not take place. It will simply not be interesting anymore and entire the project will fail. In this respect there is additional motivation [to keep winning]."

Ward will return to the ring on March 26th in Oakland, California against undefeated contender Sullivan Barrera of Cuba. Kovalev will be back in action in the summer, possibly on a June date in Russia.