By Alexey Uralets (Allboxing.ru) and Alexey Sukachev

While Dmitry Sukhotsky will get his second title chance against WBO king Nathan Cleverly somewhere in 2012, two other capable Russian light heavyweights will close this year with a bang to determine the second best local 175-pounder. On December 5, WBC Asian Boxing Council beltholder Roman Simakov (19-1-1, 9 KOs) will risk his status against hard-hitting Arapohoe-based compatriot Sergey Kovalev (16-0-1, 14 KOs) at DIVS palace of sports in Ekaterinburg Russia.

The fight will be a part of an ambitious tripleheader, arranged by German Titov and Kirill Pchelnikov in the heart of the Ural Mountains. In a co-feature, Ruslan Provodnikov (19-1, 13 KOs) will be tested by still-deserving American veteran DeMarcus Corley (37-18-1, 22 KOs). And in what seems to be the biggest fight of the night, 34-year old Uzbek stylist Alisher Rakhimov (22-0, 11 KOs) faces by far his toughest test in 28-year old Thai heavy hitter Saddam Kietyongyuth (23-0, 18 KOs).

WBC #9 Simakov, 27, is extremely active nowadays. He is 13-0, with 5 KOs, in just two years and a half. A fight against WBA #14 Kovalev will be his sixth outing this year. Former amateur star and Russian amateur champion, Kovalev, 28, debuted as a pro in 2009, 16 of his 17 fights being held overseas. Kovalev is the NABA champion. Both fighters share the same opponent in Kenyan Douglas Otieno: Simakov shut him out this March, while Kovalev destroyed the African in two just four months after that.