Joshua to face Takam in title defense after Pulev withdraws
Anthony Joshua will defend his IBF and WBA heavyweight world titles against Carlos Takam after Kubrat Pulev withdrew through injury.
The bout is scheduled for October 28 at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, with more than 70,000 tickets already sold, BBC reported.
It will be Joshua’s ¿rst ¿ght since stopping Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley Stadium in April, adding the WBA title to the IBF belt he claimed in 2016.
Pulev suffered a shoulder injury in sparring, with Takam the next in line.
The Cameroonian-french 36-year-old had been on standby for the ¿ght, promoter Eddie Hearn said.
“I received a call from [promoter] Kalle Sauerland late afternoon to inform me that Pulev had injured his shoulder and may be ruled out of the ¿ght – this was later con¿rmed by his doctor,” he added.
“IBF rules state that the mandatory will go to the next ¿ghter in line, which is Carlos Takam.
“When the Pulev ¿ght was announced I made a deal with Takam’s team to begin camp and be on standby for this ¿ght. When I called them this evening they were overjoyed and good to go.”
He added that the change of opponent put Joshua in a “dif¿cult position”.
“Having prepared meticulously for the style and height of Pulev, he now faces a completely different style and challenge in Takam,” Hearn said.
“This hasn’t happened in his career before but he is ready for all comers on October 28.”
Speaking in September, Hearn said Joshua’s aim was to face Pulev before meeting Cuban Luis Ortiz, the mandatory challenger for his WBA title.
He also stressed that Joshua does not want to vacate either of his belts and would rather defend them before hopefully facing WBC title holder Deontay Wilder of the U.S. in the summer of 2018.
The heavyweight division’s fourth recognized title is held by New Zealand’s Joseph Parker, who retained the WBO belt with a points victory over Briton Hughie Fury last month.