With Klitschko rematch now out, Anthony Joshua targets IBF mandatory defence against Kubrat Pulev

08/03/201708/03/2017 James Slater

Thank goodness for a Plan-B. Now that former heavyweight king Wladimir Klitschko has retired, thus forever ending any talk of a rematch with Anthony Joshua, AJ is looking at his next fight. And Eddie Hearn, in speaking with Sky Sports, said a fight between AJ and his IBF mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev is already in place.

Though glitzy Las Vegas is almost certainly out – Joshua-Pulev having nothing of the Big Fight factor to it that Joshua-Klitschko II had – it’s good that Joshua will not have to waste time searching for a replacement challenger.

continue

Anthony Joshua will face either Klitschko or Pulev next, says he’s “not bothered either way”

07/02/2017 James Slater

There hasn’t been a big, exciting world heavyweight title fight showdown in Las Vegas for some years now, but this could very possibly change later on this year. New star and reigning WBA/IBF heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua told Sky Sports how he believes the opportunity to fight him in a big rematch fight in Vegas will inspire Wladimir Klitschko; “get his blood boiling again,” is how AJ put it.

continue

It will be Kubrat Pulev next for Joshua if Klitschko retires, says Hearn

05/13/2017 James Slater

Anthony Joshua, the recently crowned IBF/WBA heavyweight king, is arguably THE hottest fighter in the sport right now, yet his next fight will be decided by the man AJ beat in stunning fashion last month.

Wladimir Klitschko, the proud ex-champ who, despite losing in an heroic effort, raised his game to tremendous heights on April 29, has a rematch if he wants to take it. It is now up to the 41 year old: will he retire, or will he demand the rematch, maybe in October or November of this year? Joshua says he is happy to fight “Dr. Steel Hammer” a second time – and the entire boxing population wants to see a sequel, the April battle was so great – even in Germany.

continue

Joshua may vacate IBF belt if Pulev fight forced on him

05/07/201705/06/2017 Kevin Chittenden

IBF/WBA heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua might be soon vacating his IBF title if the International Boxing Federation opts to order him to fight his mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev next. Joshua (19-0, 19 KOs) has a lot of big money options available for his next title defense, one of them being a highly lucrative rematch with Wladimir Klitschko.

continue

Kubrat Pulev eases past Kevin Johnson, aims for winner of tonight’s Joshua-Klitschko clash

04/29/2017 James Slater

In a heavyweight title fight that pretty much flew largely under the radar outside of the winner’s home country of Bulgaria, IBF NO.1 mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev won a fairly dull, lopsided 12 round unanimous decision over US veteran Kevin Johnson last night. The WBA inter-continental strap was on the line and Pulev, who is in line to face the winner of tonight’s huge Anthony Joshua-Wladimir Klitschko fight, retained this with a near shut-out.

continue

Pulev vs Johnson tonight in Sofia

04/29/201704/26/2017 Wasserman Boxing

Kubrat Pulev (24-1, 13 KOs) and Kevin Johnson (30-7-1, 14 KOs) both weighed in today ahead of their WBA Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship clash at the Arena Armeec in Sofia, Bulgaria, as did all the undercard fighters for tomorrow’s event.

Here is a list of the official weights from Sofia:

WBA Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship – 12 Rounds:

continue

Video: Out of shape Sam Peter no match for Kubrat Pulev, quits after three rounds

12/04/201612/04/2016 James Slater

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tot5Vj1SLzs

Last night in Sofia, Bulgaria, heavyweight contender Kubrat Pulev enjoyed an easy homecoming as he bashed around an out of shape Sam Peter in front of his adoring fans. Pulev, basically having nothing to beat, landed punches on the overweight, slow-footed 36-year-old at will. Peter threw a few punches, off balance as he was, but nothing ever came close to troubling 35-year-old Pulev.

continue

Kubrat Pulev: 114.65 kg vs Samuel Peter: 122.9 kg

12/02/201612/02/2016 Wasserman Boxing

Kubrat Pulev (23-1, 12 KOs) and Samuel Peter (36-5, 29 KOs) both weighed in today ahead of their WBA Intercontinental Heavyweight title clash tomorrow night at the Arena Armeec in Sofia, Bulgaria. In front of 15,000 fans, Pulev, the current European Champion, will make his long awaited homecoming fight against Peter, the former WBC World Champion, as both men target a World title opportunity in 2017.

continue

Kubrat Pulev-Sam Peter, December 3rd in Sofia

11/06/201611/06/2016 James Slater

Kubrat Pulev, the reigning European heavyweight champion who was recently in the running to be the next challenger for IBF boss Anthony Joshua, has another fight set instead. According to Pulev’s Twitter page, he will face none other than former WBC heavyweight champ Sam Peter in Sofia, Bulgaria on December 3rd.

Tickets are on sale now apparently.

What to make of this match-up? A few years ago, when Peter was still fighting regularly and was in good shape, weight-wise, this one would have been a big attraction. Maybe it still will pull in the fans in Pulev’s homeland, but what can we expect from Peter, now aged 36 and having had just two fights since 2011 (both low-key wins)?

continue

Heavyweight triple-header a possibility for Cardiff: Joshua-Pulev, Parker-Price, Chisora-Whyte!

08/30/2016 James Slater

If Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn pulls this off he will be a guaranteed Promoter of The Year award winner in Britain this year. The big plans that are currently underway are for THREE big heavyweight fights to take place on the same night in Cardiff, Wales in either November or December of this year.

According to a news piece in The Mail, Hearn is working, along with others, on staging Anthony Joshua’s second title defence, Joseph Parker against David Price and Dereck Chisora against Dillian Whyte, all at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium. The word now is Bulgaria’s Kubrat Pulev, the current European heavyweight champion, is the frontrunner to land the shot at IBF boss Joshua. This fight, a solid match-up that could well provide A.J with his stiffest pro test thus far in his career, would be supported in fine style if the other two in-the-works match-ups get made.

continue