Former heavyweight world title challengers Kubrat Pulev and Hughie Fury will meet in a world title eliminator for the right to earn another crack at a belt.
They will fight on Oct. 27 at Arena Armeec in Pulev’s hometown of Sofia, Bulgaria, promoters Epic Sports and Entertainment and Hennessey Sports announced on Tuesday.
The winner of the fight will become the mandatory challenger for the winner of the Sept. 22 fight between unified world titlist Anthony Joshua and Alexander Povetkin. The Pulev-Fury bout will air live on Channel 5 in the United Kingdom, and Top Rank’s Bob Arum said it likely will stream live on ESPN+ in the United States.
Epic Sports, which will promote its first fight with Pulev since he parted ways with Team Sauerland, and Fury promoter Hennessey Sports made a deal for the fight earlier this month and made it official this week.
“In this day and age, when some promoters and their fighters opt for the safest bets, Hughie Fury has done the opposite,” said Epic Sports’ Ivaylo Gotzev. “Fury has decided to step into the lion’s den, and fight Kubrat in his hometown.”
The 6-foor-4, 250-pound Pulev (25-1, 13 KOs), 37, has won five fights in a row since suffering the 2014 ESPN.com knockout of the year when Wladimir Klitschko took him out in their world title fight. Three opponents declined to fight Pulev for the mandatory spot: Dillian Whyte, Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller and Dominic Breazeale before Fury accepted.
“The fact that Hughie Fury is coming to Bulgaria when many others ran away speaks volumes,” Pulev said. “I understand that he is very motivated because this is an eliminator fight for a chance at the world title. I suggest he stops thinking about the world title for a moment and come prepared for a real battle. I am already in beast mode and I’m hungry for my return in the ring.”
The 6-6, 232-pound Fury (21-1, 11 KOs), 23, of England, a first cousin of former heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury, challenged then-world titlist Joseph Parker for his belt last September and lost a majority decision. Fury rebounded with a fifth-round knockout of Sam Sexton on May 12.
“It’s taken a lot of time to make this fight happen and I want to thank all of those involved,” Fury said. “I want to fight for world titles and to do that I need to beat the guys at the top of the division. Kubrat Pulev is a serious fight for the mandatory position and I know I’ve got to be the real deal to beat him. I believe I’m going to do that in his back yard where others trembled at the thought of it.”
Said Fury promoter Mick Hennessy: “First and foremost I’d like to heap praise on my young fighter Hughie Fury. He’s just a young man, full of respect for everyone he faces, and who believes in giving the fans proper fights and value for money. At just 23 years of age Hughie is a massive talent. He’s not perhaps got the plaudits he deserves, so this is his moment to make the boxing world really sit up and take notice of what he’s capable of.”