The site for the much-anticipated March 14 fight between light heavyweight titlist Sergey Kovalev and former world champion Jean Pascal was announced on Wednesday: the Bell Centre in Montreal, Pascal's hometown.

It was between Montreal and Quebec City, but UFC, which had a hold on the date, gave it up, paving the way for the HBO-televised card to take place there.

"After a tough 2014, we are extremely proud to bring to our fans one of the very best fights that can be made at light heavyweight," said Jean Bedard of InterBox, Pascal's promoter. "We all intend to start off the New Year with a bang, and Kovalev versus Pascal will certainly deliver fireworks. Our fans deserve the very best fights, and those are the fights we will concentrate to make."

Kovalev (26-0-1, 23 KOs) will be defending his three alphabet belts in his first bout since taking two of them from Bernard Hopkins in a one-sided rout on Nov. 8. It will be his fifth title defense overall. Pascal (29-2-1, 17 KOs) is coming off a second-round no contest against Roberto Bolonti on Dec. 6, also at the Bell Centre.

Main Events, Kovalev's promoter, also announced that Najib Mohammedi, one of the mandatory challengers for the winner, will appear on the undercard. Mohammedi's shot was due but Kovalev was given an exception in order to face Pascal first, with the blessing of Mohammedi. The French contender wanted more time to work with Abel Sanchez, his new trainer. They have only had one fight together, a knockout victory on the Kovalev-Hopkins undercard.

A news conference to formally announce the card is scheduled for a time to be determined next week.

"I received a very warm welcome in Montreal when I attended Pascal's last fight at the Bell Centre. I'm excited to return with Sergey and to work with Jean Bedard and his staff at InterBox," Main Events CEO Kathy Duva said.