Kubrat Pulev-Mark De Mori “likely” for November 9th Herring-Roach undercard

IBF mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev is looking to stay busy before Andy Ruiz Jr. and Anthony Joshua put the aforementioned belt on the line in their December 14th rematch. ESPN reports that “The Cobra” is “likely” to face Australia’s Mark De Mori on the November 9th Jamel Herring-Lamont Roach Jr. ESPN+ card in Fresno.

If De Mori’s (37-2-2, 33 KO) name is vaguely familiar, it’s because he was David Haye’s comeback opponent back in 2016. He lasted less than a round before getting pasted. Now based in Croatia, he’s spent the intervening time knocking out seven terrible opponents in various European locales.

Pulev (27-1, 14 KO), who’ll be back in action for the first time since a March knockout of Bogdan Dinu, is definitely playing it safe while waiting for his mandated crack at either Ruiz or Joshua, which he earned with a decision over Hughie Fury last year. Considering he turned 38 this past May and will almost certainly be making his final title shot in that bout, I don’t blame him.