By Vadim Pushkin

WBA cruiserweight world champion Denis Lebedev (28-2, 21 KOs) has arrived in Los Angeles, California to begin training camp at the Wild Card Gym for his scheduled unification bout against IBF champion Argentine Victor Emilio Ramirez (22-2-1, 17 KOs) on April 30th in either Sochi or Moscow.

As krikya360.com recently reported, the World Boxing Association recently ordered the 36-year-old Russian champion to make a mandatory title defense against Cuban Yunier Dorticos (20-0, 19 KOs), but Lebedev's promoter Andrei Ryabinsky of World of Boxing does not see that as a problem.

Lebedev will prepare under the guidance of American coach Freddie Roach, who is currently in the Philippines with Manny Pacquiao. Lebedev will stay in the Unites States until April 20, according to his manager Vadim Kornilov.

In the co-featured attraction on April 30, Olympic gold medal winner Rakhim Chakhkiev (24-2, 18KOs) will look to bounce back after suffering a knockout loss in five rounds last November at the hands of IBO world cruiserweight champion Ola Afolabi. Chakhkiev's next opponent is unknown.

Lebedev had a big year in 2015 and now won three in a row since getting knocked out by Guillermo Jones in eleven rounds in May of 2013. Jones tested positive for a banned weight cutting agent in the aftermath, but the official result of the contest was never officially changed. Jones was eventually stripped of  the belt, which the sanctioning body returned to Lebedev.

He won a twelve round unanimous decision in April over mandatory challenger Youri Kalenga. He then came back in November, and stopped undefeated Nigerian fighter Lateef Kayode in eight rounds.

Ramirez became the world champion after beltholder Yoan Pablo Hernandez was stripped for a very long stint of inactivity. Ramirez captured the interim-IBF world championship when he defeated Ola Afolabi last May, and then he came back in October to fight to a twelve round split draw with Ovill McKenzie of the UK.