And he’s got big targets on his mind when he does, but first he needs to deal with mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev.
Browsing: Kubrat Pulev
After winning back his WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight titles in his last fight against Mexican Andy Ruiz Jr, all the talks was about him facing either Tyson Fury on Deontay Wilder next.
So massively higher are the pay scales for truly elite boxers that while even Dillian Whyte will appear in next month’s last of Hearn’s four fan-less promotions in his (very large) back garden, even a discounted purse for Joshua cannot be met short of a crowded 02 Arena.
The unified heavyweight world champion was originally due to face his mandatory challenger on June 20 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.
The unified heavyweight champion is eyeing up a 2021 undisputed title fight with Tyson Fury.
However, Joshua is obliged to conduct mandatory defences against Kubrat Pulev (IBF) and Oleksandr Usyk (WBO), while Fury has a rubber match against Deontey Wilder and Dillian White as WBC №1 contender.
Tyson Fury announced he had agreed terms for a two-fight deal with Joshua in 2021 in what would be the first undisputed heavyweight showdown in over 20 years.
Despite the potential meeting between the pair offering one of the biggest fights in British boxing history, the financial lure of the Middle East could mean that they don’t go head-to-head at home.
The experienced promoter said the heavyweight champion will recover in time from the knee injury he sustained in training to face the Bulgarian for the IBF title.
Joshua and Fury have agreed terms on a deal to fight twice in 2021 in order to establish the first undisputed heavyweight world champion since Lennox Lewis 20 years ago.
Pulev is the IBF mandatory challenger for Joshua, who avenged his shock loss to Andy Ruiz Jr with a points victory in an immediate rematch in Saudi Arabia in December.
The Bulgarian is mandatory challenger for Joshua’s IBF title, but their planned bout on June 20 was postponed.
WBC heavyweight champion champion Fury said he will not be paying the Bronze Bomber to step aside, with the two due to clash in a rematch later this year.
Eddie Hearn confirmed Anthony Joshua will not fight Tyson Fury this year but insisted that he is ready to sign a two-fight deal for 2021 right now.
Anthony Joshua and Kubrat Pulev have three weeks to finalise a location for their world title fight, with Britain and Croatia on the current shortlist, said the Bulgarian’s manager Ivaylo Gotsev.
Tyson Fury is mentally stronger than Anthony Joshua and would overcome his British rival in similarly commanding fashion to how he defeated Deontay Wilder, his coach Andy Lee claimed.
Bulgarian brute Kubrat Pulev has once again refused to step aside in order to allow Tyson Fury to face Anthony Joshua in his next fight.
Kubrat Pulev has hinted that he would be prepared to accept step-aside money if Anthony Joshua wants to skip their mandatory bout and lock horns with Tyson Fury next instead.
Tyson Fury will not fight Anthony Joshua next despite the coronavirus crisis playing havoc with the sporting schedule.
Heavyweight title contender Kubrat Pulev will donate half of his Anthony Joshua fight fee to the battle against Coronavirus Disease.