Latest news with #KubratPulev
The Independent
30-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Don King confirms successful $1.1million purse bid for Kubrat-Hunter title fight
Legendary boxing promoter Don King will promote the WBA 'regular' heavyweight title fight between reigning champion Kubrat Pulev and challenger Michael Hunter in August, with the American paying over $1million for the right to organise the bout. The 93-year-old took to Instagram to confirm that his purse bid for the title fight had been successful, sharing: 'Hall of Fame boxing Promoter Don King wins $1.1million purse bid to promote WBA regular heavyweight world champion Kubrat Pulev facing no. 2 contender Michael Hunter on August 23.' 44-year-old Pulev, 32-3 (14), took the WBA's secondary world title with a unanimous decision over Mahmoud Charr in December. Hunter, 24-1-2 (17), enters the contest as the WBA gold champion at heavyweight, having won the strap in June 2024 with a unanimous decision of his own against Cassius Chaney. Watch over 150 boxing events a year live on DAZN - subscribe now Pulev-Hunter effectively serves as a semi-final to a four-man tournament set up by the WBA. Fabio Wardley 's clash with Justis Huni on Saturday, June 7, live on DAZN, is the other leg of the eliminator, with a view of the winners from each fight to face each other before December 31. The winner of Wardley-Hunis will take the interim regular heavyweight title, further cementing the victor's position as challenger to the regular belt. Whilst Kubrat Pulev is listed by the WBA as a world champion and is thus unranked, Wardley, Hunter, and Huni are all inside the organisation's top 10. Wardley is currently number one, with Hunter second. Huni is further down the ratings, coming in at ninth at the WBA's last update at the end of April. It remains to be seen whether the winner of the four-man tournament will be given any preferential treatment, such as an official mandatory shot at the WBA's 'super' heavyweight champion, Oleksandr Usyk. Despite previous promises to streamline their world titles, the WBA has continued to hand out both regular and super versions of titles across numerous divisions. Watch the very best boxing with a DAZN subscription DAZN is the home of combat sports, broadcasting over 185 fights a year from the world's best promoters, including Matchroom, Queensberry, Golden Boy, Misfits, PFL, BKFC, GLORY and more. An Annual Saver subscription is a one-off cost of £119.99 / $224.99 (for 12 months access), that's just 64p / $1.21 per fight. There is also a Monthly Flex Pass option (cancel any time) at £24.99 / $29.99 per month. A subscription includes weekly magazine shows, comprehensive fight library, exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes documentaries, and podcasts and vodcasts.
The Independent
27-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Purse bids ordered for Kubrat Pulev's defence of WBA regular heavyweight title against Michael Hunter
Kubrat Pulev is set to face Michael Hunter for the WBA regular heavyweight championshipafter the organisation ordered purse bids to made by Tuesday, May 27. 44-year-old Pulev earned the belt by defeating Manuel Charr in December 2024, effectively becoming the WBA's secondary champion. Hunter, 24-1-2 (17), is currently ranked number two in the WBA's heavyweight ratings. Number one, Fabio Wardley, has been bypassed as he is currently set to fight Justis Huni in his hometown of Ipswich on Saturday, June 7, live on DAZN. As such, the WBA says that Hunter is the 'division's top available contender'. Announcing their intention to set up a fight between Pulev, 32-3 (14), and Hunter, the WBA stated: 'The World Boxing Association (WBA) has officially called a purse bid for the heavyweight world title bout between reigning champion Kubrat Pulev and mandatory challenger Michael Hunter. The purse bid is scheduled for Tuesday, May 27, in Houston, Texas, and will be conducted by WBA Championships Committee Vice-Chairman Julio Thyme. It added: 'After granting both camps a negotiation period that failed to produce a deal, the WBA has moved to the next step in the process. Formal notice was sent through official channels, outlining all terms and conditions of the purse bid procedure.' The purse will be split 75/25 in favour of champion Pulev. Oleksandr Usyk is the current holder of the WBA's super heavyweight title, which is viewed as being on par with the other three organisations' main belts. Coincidentally, Usyk will be fighting for all four equivalent belts this summer, when he aims to reunify the division with a rematch against IBF champion Daniel Dubois on Saturday, July 19, which will be live on DAZN. Former undisputed champion Usyk was forced to vacate the IBF title shortly after unifying all four belts following his split decision win over Tyson Fury. That was because Usyk prioritised a rematch with Fury over facing his mandatory challenger, Dubois. Dubois subsequently defeated Anthony Joshua in September 2024, elevating the Brit to world champion status and leading to another unification bout in the heavyweight division. Usyk previously defeated Dubois with a ninth-round stoppage in August 2023.
