Anthony Joshua vs. Kubrat Pulev is another step toward reality, according to a report.
The IBF has extended the deadline to Jan 31 for its heavyweight titleholder and mandatory challenger to reach a deal before it goes to purse bid, according to ESPN.com. The original deadline was Jan. 11.
John Wirt of Epic Sports, which handles Pulev, told an IBF official that the sides are “making huge progress.”
“We are very close in my opinion, but the real issue is everyone’s trying to vet offers [from sites] that are coming in from all over,” Wirt told ESPN. com. “The only continents not in play to my knowledge are Antarctica and Australia.”
If Joshua, a unified champion, and Pulev can’t reach an agreement, a purse bid would determine who promotes the fight.
Joshua also holds the WBO title, whose mandatory challenger is Oleksandr Usyk. The former cruiserweight titleholder is expected to fight someone else and then challenge for the title later this year.
Meanwhile, according to Sky Sports, is angling for a showdown with WBC titledholder Deontay Wilder if Wilder gets past Tyson Fury in their rematch on Feb. 22. Wilder and Fury reportedly are set on a third fight regardless of the outcome but Joshua apparently believes he can change those plans.
Wilder said that after his team met with Usyk’s handlers last week, that “we had another meeting to potentially put an offer in to solidfy [a fight with Wilder] before they have even had their fight, and before I have my next fight.”
He went on: “We have to throw a curveball in there. Something that gets Wilder’s attention providing he wins so that he thinks to himself: ‘Even though I have a rematch clause, I’ll see how I can manipulate my contract, get out of it, and fight for the undisputed championship’.”
Joshua lost his three titles (he also is the WBA champion) to Andy Ruiz Jr. in a stunning upset in June but regained them by outpointing Ruiz in December.