Isaac Chilemba will take on Russian Vasily Lepikhin for the North American Boxing Federation light-heavyweight title in Canada on March 14, Main Events public relations director Ellen Haley announced yesterday.

Haley said their 10-rounder will be the main supporting bout to the WBO, WBA and IBF light-heavyweight championship between holder Sergey Kovalev and challenger Jean Pascal.

Haley said victory for Chilemba will bring him a step closer towards achieving his dream of becoming a credible world champion.

The 27-year-old boxer, whose career is guided by female manager Jodi Solomon, is rated No 2 by the WBC, seventh by the IBF and sixth by WBO.

Chilemba is the former IBO and ABU super-middleweight, ABU, WBC International and WBO Africa light heavyweight champion.

The fight against Lepikhin will be Chilemba's 10th under Main Events since promoter Kathy Duva signed him for an exclusive promotional rights in 2013.

Chilemba made his professional debut under Nick Durandt in 2005 before teaming up with Colin Nathan whom he left for James McGirt, a former WBC welterweight world boxing champion, in the US.

Chilemba could be lost to South African fans. The Malawian-born fighter has lived in South Africa since 2005. He said travelling back and forth between the US and South Africa was killing him.

"That is why I am considering emigrating to the USA. I used to love South Africa and I enjoyed living there, but we are looking into moving to the US," he said.

"It is getting impossible for me to train and prepare for fights when I have to travel so far. After defeating Lepikhin, I will hopefully get my title shot."

Lepikhin, 29, is undefeated after 17 bouts.