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Bulgarian heavyweight Kubrat Pulev’s long-awaited IBF mandatory title shot at Anthony Joshua (who holds the WBA and WBO titles, as well) was scheduled for June 20, but like most everything in boxing, has been postponed for the time being.
Whenever it happens (Matchroom Boxing are hoping in July, but we’ll see), Pulev is going to earn a nice payday. And he said he will donate half of the money he makes for the fight to medical professionals dealing with the virus, he told Bild (via Sky Sports):
“I will donate 50 percent of the money I earn from the match with Joshua to the tireless heroes in the fight against the coronavirus. I will give doctors, nurses and hospitals the necessary equipment to deal with this devilish virus.”
It’s a kind gesture from the 38-year-old Pulev (28-1, 14 KO), who won an IBF eliminator back in Oct. 2018 by beating Hughie Fury on points in Sofia, Bulgaria. He’s won two stay-busy fights since then, beating Bogdan Dinu and Rydell Booker in 2019, and has won eight straight overall since a 2014 loss to Wladimir Klitschko in his lone previous title shot.
And while there has been plenty of talk from Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn about trying to find a way to do a fight between Joshua and Tyson Fury, it doesn’t sound like Pulev is interested in stepping aside and waiting any longer.