The IBF have ordered Pulev to fight Whyte.
Kubrat Pulev has accepted an IBF final eliminator against Dillian Whyte and is happy to fight the Brixton man. According to the Bulgarian’s promoter Nisse Sauerland he would be ready to fight in June.
The International Boxing Federation (IBF) have ordered Pulev to fight Whyte. The winner becoming mandatory challenger for the belt held by Anthony Joshua, who for the first time in his career went the distance and won on points over Joseph Parker in Saturday’s unification clash in Cardiff.
Sauerland has confirmed the fit-again Pulev wants to earn another shot at Anthony Joshua after pulling out of an October fight through injury and hopes to reach a deal with Whyte’s promoter Eddie Hearn in the coming weeks.
“I just hope Dillian accepts it, we have,” Sauerland exclusively told Sky Sports. “We have accepted the position and we’re ready to go.”
“We have worked with Eddie successfully for a number of years now. He is the most straightforward out there to work with and we believe we are as well. I think it’s relatively easy.”
However, Whyte who pulled off an emphatic knockout against Lucas Browne last month has plenty of options to consider. He is the No 1 ranked contender by the WBC, while he also holds a lofty position with the WBA and could target Alexander Povetkin, or the winner of Manuel Charr’s WBA ‘regular’ title defence with Fres Oquendo in Chicago on May 4. It will be interesting to see what route Whyte takes. It will be great to see him get his much-deserved rematch with Joshua.
However, Sauerland believes Pulev, a popular star in his home country, could create enough revenue to lure Whyte to Bulgaria, but is also willing to face the Brixton man at The O2 on a potential date in June.
Furthermore, in Bulgaria, Kubrat is a national hero, sells 20,000 [tickets] when he fights. Dillian obviously headlines at The O2 and is an interesting fighter in his own right. It’s a big fight, either way we look at it.
Whyte has voiced his desire to avenge a 2015 knockout by Joshua, the sole defeat on his professional record, while Pulev’s only loss came via stoppage to Wladimir Klitschko back in 2014. It is an interesting time of heavyweight boxing.
Who do you guys want to see Dillian Whyte face next – comment below.
