STEP ASIDE FOR AJ? PUL THE OTHER ONE!
Bulgarian star blocks Joshua bid to face Fury in heavyweight showdown
KUBRAT PULEV has told Anthony Joshua to forget about facing Tyson Fury next as the Bulgarian challenger insists he will not step aside for the heavyweight superfight.
And with American Deontay Wilder also not interested in a big offer to give up his rematch with Fury, the British pair will have to wait until 2021 to get in the ring together.
Joshua, 30, was due to face IBF mandatory challenger Pulev on June 20 before the coronavirus pandemic postponed the clash at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The Watford warrior’s promoter Eddie Hearn has been pushing for Pulev and Wilder to make way for a £250million Middle East fight with Fury for later this year.
But Pulev insists he has no interest in giving up his shot against the IBF, WBA and WBO champion. He said: “I wouldn’t accept it. I did it once when I didn’t have to do it for him (Joshua) to have his second match against Andy Ruiz Jr. Everything was against IBF’S rules but I compromised.”
Wilder’s team have also made it clear to Fury’s the former WBC champion has no interest in cash to step aside.
The third fight between Fury (above) and Wilder is still expected to be this year, but the venue will depend on where fans can go.
Pulev says a new venue and date should be set
for his clash with Joshua, despite sport being halted by the virus. He said: “I can’t understand why we are still postponing instead of fixing a date and venue and getting to work? I can’t wait to win this fight.
“There are two options. You either fight or vacate the title.”
British heavyweight Daniel Dubois was due to face Joe Joyce in summer but the clash is off until autumn at best.
Rising star Dubois feels he is ready to face any of the big names in the top division.
When asked who wins between him and the rest of the division, Dubois said: “Me, definitely. I back myself all the way.”
But that showdown may end up behind closed doors at BT Sport studios. Frank Warren plans to start staging shows without audiences from mid-july at BT’S facilities in east London, initially with British title fights.