Anthony Joshua vs Kubrat Pulev postponed due to coronavirus pandemic, claims Bulgarian

Bout is scheduled for 20 June at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London

Anthony Joshua (left) and upcoming challenger Kubrat Pulev (PA)

Anthony Joshua’s world heavyweight title defence against Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev will be postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak, the IBF’s mandatory challenger said on Thursday.

Former European amateur super-heavyweight champion Pulev said the fight would probably take place at the end of the year, instead of 20 June at Tottenham Hotspur’s stadium in London as scheduled.

The 62,000-seat stadium is unlikely to be available after European soccer’s governing body Uefa postponed Euro 2020 to 2021 this week, meaning any rescheduled Premier League fixtures could now run into the summer.

“It is impossible for the fight to take place on 20 June, although I am ready,” Pulev, 38, said.

“The match will take place a few months later, perhaps towards the end of the year.”

Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn said earlier this week that the fight would not take place behind closed doors.

Pulev, one of Bulgaria’s most popular sportsmen, challenged for the IBF world heavyweight title in 2014, losing to Wladimir Klitschko in Hamburg via fifth-round knockout.

Joshua last fought in London in September 2018 when he beat Alexander Povetkin at Wembley Stadium.

In his last bout, Joshua out-pointed Andy Ruiz Jr in a rematch to regain the WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight titles in December.

In June last year Ruiz handed Joshua his first defeat as a pro, beating the Briton via TKO in Madison Square Garden in New York.

Joshua was initially due to fight Pulev at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium in October 2017, but the Bulgarian withdrew after suffering a shoulder injury in sparring.

Last year Pulev was embroiled in controversy during a post-fight interview when he grabbed reporter Jennifer Ravalo’s face and kissed her after knocking out Romania’s Bogdan Dinu in the seventh round in Costa Mesa, California.

Reuters