Kubrat Pulev stops Samuel Peter in four

Heavyweight contender Kubrat Pulev remained in the race for an IBF title shot today, as the No. 2 ranked Bulgarian dismantled former titleholder Samuel Peter in Sofia, winning via fourth round stoppage.

Peter (36-6, 29 KO) was out of shape and at an inactive 36 years of age, was simply no match for Pulev (24-1, 13 KO), who won his fourth straight following his 2014 defeat against Wladimir Klitschko.

Pulev, 35, will look to gain a crack at Anthony Joshua next year, most likely, should Joshua retain on December 10 against Eric Molina, as it is expected that he will.

For Peter, this was just his third fight since 2011, following one in September 2014 and another in October of this year, both against easy opponents in Oklahoma and Mexico. The former WBC titleholder, who beat Oleg Maskaev for that belt in 2008 before being destroyed by Vitali Klitschko, was overmatched at this point against Pulev, a sturdy technician with respectable power, and a legitimate contender.