Former World heavyweight title challenger Hughie Fury looks set to take on Kubrat Pulev in a final eliminator for Anthony Joshua’s IBF World heavyweight title.
Fury, who won the British heavyweight title with a dominant fifth round knockout win against Sam Sexton in May, has been calling for an opportunity to force a second World title shot after dropping a twelve round decision to then-WBO titlist Joseph Parker in September of 2017.
Now, following a breakdown in negotiations between Jarrell ‘Big Baby’ Miller and Kubrat Pulev, it appears that the 23-year-old will step in to face Bulagria’s Pulev, with talks expected to begin imminently.
Dmitry Salita, Miller’s promoter, revealed that the breakdown was due to the American’s unwillingness to face Pulev in his homeland, with a neutral venue preferred.
“We were trying for the fight to happen in the United States, or at the very least some kind of neutral territory, and we just couldn’t make that deal,” said Salita in an exclusive interview with Sky Sports.
“Jarrell wants to fight the best fighters in the world and Pulev is a very good fighter, and we would consider that fight, just the location didn’t work for us.” he finished.
With the IBF’s number four ranked contender Alexander Povetkin widely expected to announce a bout with Anthony Joshua in the next few days, Fury – who is ranked at number five by the governing body – is the next in line for a bout with Pulev.
The development will come as a welcome news for ‘Team Fury’, with trainer and father Peter Fury calling for an opportunity for Hughie to lock horns with WBA/WBO/IBF kingpin Joshua in recent weeks.