KUBRAT PULEV is already plotting a fight against Tyson Fury – having beaten his cousin Hughie in the past.
Pulev beat Hughie two years ago in Bulgaria in an IBF eliminator for Anthony Joshua’s title.
Kubrat Pulev is already plotting a fight against Tyson Fury
Fury’s cousin Hughie was beaten by Pulev in 2018
The 39-year-old is due to face unified champion AJ this year after the coronavirus pandemic forced the initial June date to be scrapped.
But Pulev, who also beat Derek Chisora in 2016, is hoping to keep his rivalry with British opposition alive by challenging WBC king Fury.
His manager Ivalyo Gotsev told Sky Sports: “We’ve got a little history going here, with Kubrat and British heavyweights. He’s knocked off quite a few.
“He shut up Derek Chisora, because he had a big mouth. That was great, then beating another Fury, the little cousin was also a pretty good feat. That was the fight that qualified him to be the No1 contender to Joshua, another British champion, so there is a little connection there.
“Kubrat versus UK, I like that. A little name for himself there, so yeah, let’s deal with Joshua first. Let the best man win, and then we’ll look at options with Tyson Fury.
“Either way, all roads lead to Fury. I can say that, because I think he’s shown to be one of the supreme guys out there, if not the supreme guy.
“He is the man. It would be delightful to face the UK champions, one after another, wouldn’t it.”
We’ve got a little history going here, with Kubrat and British heavyweights. He’s knocked off quite a few. He shut up Derek Chisora, because he had a big mouth. That was great, then beating another Fury, the little cousin was also a pretty good feat.
Pulev’s manager Ivalyo Gotsev
Joshua had hoped to pay Pulev step aside money to allow him to face Fury in a historic undisputed title decider.
But with Deontay Wilder – who lost to Fury in February – adamant he will invoke his right to a trilogy, AJ looks set to face his mandatory challenger before he can focus on a unification.
And promoter Eddie Hearn still plans to stage the title fight in the UK, but warned if fans cannot attend by September, the event may be forced to go abroad.
Hearn said: “The focus remains the same – do the fight in the UK. We have also now conceded that AJ will only fight once this year.
“Before it was all about getting that fight in early-August to make sure we could fight in December. Because of the preparation needed and the magnitude of his shows, AJ will only box once in 2020.
“We hope between September and December live gates will return to the UK. There is also a chance they won’t – if that’s the case, we will take the fight elsewhere.
“We have had a number of approaches from the Middle East, China, and Croatia to stage the fight. We want to give ourselves every opportunity to stage it in the UK, but we know it may not be possible.
“We want the mandatory defence boxed off, out of the way, before he moves into the undisputed fight next year.”
Pulev beat Hughie Fury two years ago in Bulgaria in an IBF eliminator
Pulev is due to face Anthony Joshua this year after the coronavirus pandemic forced the initial June date to be scrappedCredit: PA:Press Association
Dillian Whyte ranks his top five heavyweights in world and only puts himself THIRD behind Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
