Kubrat Pulev vs Hughie Fury purse bid pushed back

Kubrat Pulev has been waiting basically all year to find out if, when, and whom he will be fighting in an IBF heavyweight eliminator, and now he has to wait at least another week.

The IBF has postponed their purse bid until August 16, after it was originally scheduled to take place on August 8. The two teams still have a week, then, to come up with a deal, but if they haven’t done it by now it seems pretty unlikely they will at this point. Plus, it’s well-known that Pulev and his promoters at Sauerland are on the outs, which is one of the reasons why Epic Sports and Entertainment have won his last two bids, neither of which resulted in a fight.

If you haven’t been following this Pulev saga, here are the quick notes:

• Pulev vs Dillian Whyte was ordered by the IBF. A purse bid was held. Epic Sports won it, Whyte turned down the fight.
• Pulev vs Jarrell Miller was ordered by the IBF. A purse bid was held. Epic Sports won it, Miller turned down the fight.
• Pulev vs Hughie Fury was ordered by the IBF. A purse bid has been ordered. We’ll see.

Pulev (25-1, 13 KO) isn’t getting any younger at 37, and this opportunity could be his last to win a world title. He’s had one shot previously, and was knocked out by Wladimir Klitschko in 2014.

Fury (21-1, 11 KO) had a shot at the WBO title last year, losing a decision to Joseph Parker. He last fought in May, beating Sam Sexton to win the British heavyweight title.