THE dance is now over.
Bulgarian heavyweight boxer Kubrat Pulev is set to go toe-to-toe with Anthony Joshua after the British sports star reclaimed his heavyweight belts by defeating Andy Ruiz Jr.
Kubrat Pulev is said to be Anthony Joshua’s next opponentCredit: Getty – Contributor
Pulev boasts a 28-1 record and hails from BulgariaCredit: Getty – Contributor
We’ve been here before, of course. The two were due to do battle in the ring back in 2017 before Pulev, 38, pulled out of the bout at the eleventh hour.
But now the 2008 European Championship gold medallist is said to be the next in line to fight AJ, according to promoter Eddie Hearn.
Pulev has been plagued by controversy in the past though.
Earlier this year he had his boxing licence suspended when he forcibly kissed a female reporter on the lips during an interview, and that’s not all…
ROUND 2
Two years ago, Pulev and Joshua were supposed to fight each other at Cardiff’s Principality.
However, 11 days before the scheduled bout Pulev injured his shoulder in training and had to pull out.
Carlos Takam stepped in at short notice, and Joshua finished the tough Frenchman in ten rounds.
Later Pulev said he could’ve made it to the ring for the £4m payday, but knew he wouldn’t have been able to give the best account of himself.
“It wasn’t easy for me to make that decision,” Pulev said.
Joshua and Pulev were supposed to fight each other in 2017Credit: AFP or licensors
A shoulder injury sustained in training meant Pulev had to pull out 11 days before the Anthony Joshua fightCredit: Getty – Contributor
”I know, in my place, almost everyone would choose to get into the ring in Cardiff, despite everything, and collect a few million.
“Anyone else, but not me!
“I understand that despite the turns of life, a man should not cheat on his beliefs.
“I can beat Joshua … but I can’t beat him if I’m injured.”
KISSGATE
Back in March, after defeating Bogdan Dinu in Costa Mesa, California, Pulev forcibly kissed female journalist Jennifer Ravalo, as well as reportedly “groped her buttocks”.
The California State Athletic Commission immediately suspended Pulev, however his brother responded by sharing a video of Ravalo dancing with a member of Pulev’s entourage on that same night.
Pulev denied any wrongdoing.
He told BILD: “That’s not true. And by the way, this woman is not my type. I’m not afraid – I also have videos if necessary.
“I have no fault and have done in my career already tens of thousands of interviews.
“Everyone knows me as a friendly and polite person.
“The woman came to me [at the weigh-in] and said, ‘After the fight, we party.'”
Kissgate threatened to end Pulev’s careerCredit: Refer to Caption
Pulev had his boxing licence suspended after a sexual harassment claimCredit: Getty – Contributor
Four months later, Pulev had his boxing licence reinstated by the CSAC after he completed a sexual harassment prevention class.
He was warned if he was to pull the same stunt again, he’d have his licence revoked again.
THIS IS HIS TYPE
Pulev’s long-term girlfriend is a blonde bombshell with a big voice.
The fighter has dated pop star Andrea, 32, since 2006, and she regularly tweets about his success.
She stuck by her man after ‘Kissgate’, sharing a picture of the pair of them sharing a smooch the day after the allegations came to light.
During her teenage years she won numerous beauty pageants including Miss Sofia and Miss Tourism Bulgaria.
Pulev’s girlfriend Andrea stood by her man after sexual harassment claimsCredit: Supplied
Andrea is a huge pop star in BulgariaCredit: https://www.instagram.com/andreabulgaria/
When Andrea was a teenager she won Miss Sofia and Miss Tourism Bulgaria beauty pageantsCredit: Instagram @andreabulgaria
Bulgarian beauty Andrea has also amassed over 320,000 followers on InstagramCredit: https://www.instagram.com/andreabulgaria/
She has won over 30 awards like “Balkan Star” on “Beogradski Pobednik” in Belgrade, “European Performer of the Year on “Kralevski Festival” in Kraljevo Serbia, “Balkan Star” on “Montefolk Awards” in Montenegro.
And Andrea is hugely popular on social media, amassing over 320,000 followers on Instagram.
ONE BLIP ON HIS RECORD
Pulev boasts a professional fighting record of 28-1, with the only man to defeat him being someone Joshua has beat in the past.
In 2014, Pulev fought Wladimir Klitschko at the O2 World Arena in Hamburg and met his match.
In a one-sided duel he was knocked down three times before Klitschko put him out of his misery and knocked him down one final time with a devastating left-hook in the fifth.
“Wladimir is a really good opponent, but he was lucky. I want a rematch,” Pulev said after the fight.
He never got one.
Like Anthony Joshua Pulev has gone toe-to-toe with Wladimir Klitschko in the ringCredit: AFP – Getty
Pulev was floored by Klitschko three times before being knocked outCredit: Getty – Contributor
A left hook finished Pulev off in the fifth roundCredit: Getty – Contributor
SNUBBED GERMANY
He’s not called ‘The Pride of Bulgaria’ for nothing.
Named after a Bulgarian medieval ruler, and born in Sofia, Pulev could never align himself with another nation.
But over the years, he has declined several lucrative financial offers to fight for Germany.
However, Pulev views it as a matter of principle and has said he would never change his national allegiance.
Germany’s loss is Bulgaria’s gain, and he will be wearing their flag should he step into the ring with Joshua next.
Anthony Joshua set to fight Kubrat Pulev next before facing Oleksandr Usyk, says Eddie Hearn
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
