Dillian Whyte v Kubrat Pulev: IBF orders heavyweights to fight, says Eddie Hearn

Last updated on 3 April 2018.From the section Boxing240

Heavyweights Dillian Whyte and Kubrat Pulev have been ordered to fight by the International Boxing Federation, says the Briton's promoter Eddie Hearn.

The bout would be a final eliminator to become the mandatory challenger for the IBF world heavyweight title held by Whyte's compatriot Anthony Joshua.

It could complicate Joshua's hopes of a unification fight with Deontay Wilder.

Joshua, who is also the WBO and WBA champion, may have to face either Whyte or Pulev, or give up his IBF belt.

"Just received a letter from the IBF ordering a final eliminator for the mandatory position between Dillian Whyte and Kubrat Pulev," tweeted Hearn.

"Interesting times for the division."

Joshua wants Wilder's WBC belt after winning the WBO title with a unanimous points win over Joseph Parker on Saturday.

A bout between Joshua and American Wilder would deliver the first man to hold all four major heavyweight titles.

Bulgaria's Pulev, 36, pulled out of a title fight with Joshua in October with a shoulder injury, while Whyte, 29, lost to his countryman in 2015.

What next for Joshua?

Analysis

Luke Reddy, BBC Sport boxing reporter

The boxing world moves fast.

On Saturday, Whyte mouthed "easy money" after watching Alexander Povetkin beat David Price. He even got close to the ring to say he'd face the Russian.

Two days later, it's now Pulev - and a win would line up a second Whyte v Joshua fight since they turned pro.

This underlines just how hard it will be for Joshua to keep all his belts as the IBF, WBA and WBO can raise challengers in this way. It shows the limited time on offer to make Joshua-Wilder, with all four belts up for grabs.

Whyte will care little for such politics. He beat Joshua in the amateur game and wobbled him when they met in the paid ranks.

He will see this as a chance at the big time.

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240 comments

Comment posted by shotalien, at 09:34 3 Apr 2018
Ludicrous that there is more than one world champion in any weight division
Comment posted by Wormhole, at 08:39 3 Apr 2018
Well, that's what happens when boxers pussy foot around trying to get 4 belts.
There should just be ONE!
Comment posted by Toby, at 07:55 3 Apr 2018
I think this just means Joshua cant waste any time and needs to fight Wilder next. Once he has all the belts, he'll be kept busy with all the mandatory defences, starting with the winner of Whyte / Pulev
Comment posted by King Pug, at 08:30 3 Apr 2018
Operation protect the American Heavyweight Champ is underway.....this just makes the Wilder fight even tougher to sort out.
Comment posted by whatdoiknow, at 07:51 3 Apr 2018
No chance of unifying all the belts. The conspiracy has already started.
Comment posted by U16770386, at 08:47 3 Apr 2018
everyone in world boxing wants to see a unification bout! why do we let the money grabbing wh0res get in the way. if AJ has to fight the winner of Whyte/Pulev fine, let Wilder fight Fury and the winner takes all at Wembley on 26-12-18. be the best boxing day ever!
Comment posted by True Shrew, at 08:46 3 Apr 2018
How strange when Whyte is ranked no 1 in the WBC to Wilder for the IBF to come up with this, the last time i looked Jarrell Miller was ranked above Whyte with the IBF
Comment posted by topcharlie, at 08:22 3 Apr 2018
Bellew gets mentioned as a contender way too much. Anyone with a loss to Cleverley on their record aint going to become HW champ, c'mon...
Comment posted by flooch, at 09:42 3 Apr 2018
Exactly. Unifying the silly number of "Championship" belts is laudable but the inevitable boxing politics quickly leads to fragmentation. So even if Joshua fights & beats Wilder, bet he isn't the "undisputed" champion for very long, if at all.
Comment posted by Christopher Wright , at 07:59 3 Apr 2018
Anyway Dillian doesn't have to fight Pulev if he doesn't want to, seems strange that a fighter who holds the WBC Silver title is ordered by the IBF to fight for the mandatory position but we are talking about boxing.
Comment posted by Liamski1, at 10:47 3 Apr 2018
Fury shouldn't enter any conversation about Heavyweight boxing until he is actually fighting again if he ever does.

Anything else is just useless speculation.
Comment posted by Wee Brian, at 10:54 3 Apr 2018
@25 shotalien “Ludicrous that there is more than one world champion in any weight division”

Spot on. When I was a boy, there were only 8 weight divisions and one world champion for each. Every boxing fan could rhyme off all eight champions and every title fight was a really big event.

Changed days, and not for the better.
Comment posted by Tom081191, at 10:29 3 Apr 2018
I'm a little confused when people say neither AJ nor Wilder deserves to be unified champion because they wouldn't beat Ali or Holmes. Those guys aren't fighting anymore! To be unified champion you beat who is in front of you. If AJ is able to beat Wilder then he will have won all 4 world titles in 4 different fights and beaten everyone (Fury aside). That makes you a worthy unified champion.
Comment posted by Fred, at 12:22 3 Apr 2018
102 Shupi:

On Saturday a skilled boxer comprehensively dominated his opponent. He hit him without getting hit, which most people agree is the point of boxing.
Comment posted by caeserean, at 10:48 3 Apr 2018
42. Posted by Phil on
11 minutes ago

It's called boxing Phil and the guys go out there to win a boxing match, not just to entertain us.
When a fairly inexperienced title holder fights another title holder, why would he take risks for the sake of entertainment? Parker has never been put down so AJ used a strategy that didn't rely on putting him down and he won comfortably.
Stick to wrestling
Comment posted by BristolOne, at 09:26 3 Apr 2018
I'm guessing AJ just wants to hold all four titles at the same time as a one off. That makes history and also he is then indisputably the man to beat at HW. After that titles don't matter too much and he can pick and choose opponents and dictate terms. I think they'll make Wilder an offer he can't refuse to get the fight and get it over here - maybe 60/40 split or even 55/45.
Comment posted by Whiteside of 606, at 09:07 3 Apr 2018
Cue the fun and games.

The smart play is to get the WBC to name Whyte as their mandatory to face Wilder.
Joshua can knock off Pulev to satisfy the IBF.

And then a massive all British unification would be on with Hearn promoting both fighters.
Comment posted by napoleons army, at 11:33 3 Apr 2018
Why do people bring up fury........when he gave up his belts he is no longer "the man" or "lineal champ" he is the ex "lineal champ" people need to move on........
Comment posted by Michael oxley-king, at 10:48 3 Apr 2018
@32 luckily we live in a democracy where people are entitled to their opinion. Football fans are allowed to voice their views on any subject they like. If you don't like it-tough. Define a real boxing fan. Are you really saying that someone can only have a view on 1 sport. Your views are utter drivel, but you are allowed to make them.
Comment posted by rockerz, at 12:11 3 Apr 2018
Seeing as they're the only title holders, how is it that Wilder is not mandatory challenger for Joshua's belts and Joshua not mandatory challenger for Wilder's belt? I love my boxing and the heavyweight division is as interesting at the moment as it's been for some time, but the way boxing is run seemingly by the promoters over the councils etc is just ridiculous.