According to a bulgarian sport site, the IBF chairsman Lindsey Tucker said they must face each other. The reason is simple: Joseph Parker is fighting for WBO title with Ruiz , so Pulev is taking #1 contender for the IBF belt. The rules are saying that the IBF champion has 3 options for his next opponent: The most important one is match with Klitschko for unification The second one is fighting #1 mandatory which is Pulev The third one is to pick up a guy from IBF top15 ( The potential ones are : Haye ranked #3 , Duhaupas #4 , Takam #6 ( according some sources they are about to face each other ) , Glazkov #7 , Molina #8, Miller #9, Price #12, Ugonoh #13 , Hughie Fury #14 , Teper #15 ) Other contenders are busy. I doubt it will be Fury or Ugonoh, because they don't have enough experience. Teper just had a bad match and he is not in a good shape, Glazkov won't take the risk to loose twice in a row, Miller is unknown to the british fans. So basicly it would be Haye, Duhaupas, Takam, Molina or Price. I still wonder how Price and Haye are even ranked in IBF with their "amazing" wins. If Joshua's choice is a volunteer defense, after the match they have 120 days to make the fight with #1 mandatory which is Pulev. So I think that Pulev will fight in the end of the year with someone like Wach or a decent B level fighter to keep in shape, and Joshua will take a top15 contender. Then they will have 120 days to set up the fight. I just have a question if Joshua wants an unification fight , is the fight with Pulev staying on the background even they have 120 days to make the fight?
I'm okay with that. It kinda sucks seeing as we were lured into thinking into be Wlad but Pulev is a decent fighter. He offers a style AJ hasn't faced properly as a pro too
This really, really doesn't mean that we get Joshi vs Pulev. Just that he's one of the no less then 12 candidates!!! Of course he has one of the better chances here, but this clearly isn't a given. Saying that, I would like to see that... Pulev is much better as anyone Joshua faced up till now.
Pulev is bull****, he couldnt put a dent in a shot Chisora...Joshua will take him out same way as Wlad did.
What is it with you and stiff plodding euros Pulev sucks he has no power. None And old shot klitschko brutally murdered him in 1st gear Joshua by brutal ko
I'm not talking about the end of the match, but that finally we will get the wanted "movement" between the fighters. They are both top rated so it will be a much better match up than Joshua vs Molina/Miller/Price etc... What do you think that Price will give some rounds to AJ??? He will be killed in less than 3 minutes.
I hope AJ vs Pulev happens in December (if Klit goes for Browne), that's much better opponent than Molina or Price. That would be the biggest test in AJ's career, although I think he would dispatch Kubrat with ease, his style is perfect for Joshua. Still: that's a decent step up and a good name to add to his resume. Much better fighter than Martin and Breazele.
Would be a decent match up, much better the proposition of Price or Molina and would get his mandatory out of his way. But Pulev priced himself out last time, he's likely to try and force it to purse bids so he gets 25% so I doubt it will happen on the December card unless Hearn agrees to pay him 25% without it going to purse bids.
No , Klitschko fought , wrestled and grappled desperately against a mummy man who staggered him with a jab. If you watch it back , note how Wlad had to resort to double handed fist pumps , choke holds and turn-buckle lift front power slams. See... http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/11/15/1416091715203_wps_62_Ukrainian_WBA_WBO_IBO_and.jpg
It would be good for AJ to finally face someone of note, especially since him and Parker (his mandatory) keep avoiding each other. Pulev is a name, but to me he seemed aged in his lat fight, so much better chance for AJ against him. Ideally followed by an unification with the winner of Ruiz v Parker or any unification.
By far the best opponent of Joshua's career. An Ortiz fight would be better, but this is a good opponent.
I believe if it goes to purse bids Pulev still wouldn't get 25% as he's not ranked number 1 even if the IBF order it, I think it's only 15 because he hasn't won an eliminator If memory serves Porky Medina had the same beef when DeGale was ordered to face him.