Heavyweight contender Kubrat Pulev is still pushing to get his mandatory shot at IBF, IBO, WBA champion Anthony Joshua (19-0, 19 KOs).

Pulev is the mandatory challenger under the IBF.

But there is one big problem, there is a rematch clause between Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko. Back in April, Joshua got off the floor in the sixth round to stop Klitschko in the eleventh round round to unify his three times.

Klitschko is likely going to exercise the rematch clause, and the second fight would be targeted for this coming fall.

Joshua's promoter, Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Sport, has asked the IBF for an exception - but Pulev and his promoter, Kalle Sauerland of Sauerland Event, are standing their ground and opposed the request.

It is now up to the IBF to approve the request - unless the three parties can reach some sort of agreement - like Pulev facing the winner of Joshua-Klitschko 2.

"I look after my guys, that’s what I’m there to do. At the end of the day I’ve got to make sure Kubrat Pulev’s looked after in terms of getting his fight. One thing I’m happy about, if they go again, if they allow the rematch to be the next fight, I’m very confident that he gets the winner, who I fully expect to be Anthony Joshua and we’ll have Joshua-Pulev. That’s the fight that Kubrat really wants. He was offered it. He was offered it as a voluntary. He turned it down. He knows that he gets better terms as a mandatory," Pulev told Boxing News.

“In the name of boxing I would understand a decision against us, as Kubrat Pulev’s promoter of course we don’t. At the end we have to accept what the IBF decides. They either allow the fight or not allow the fight. They either allow Pulev or [Joshua] is allowed to fight Klitschko. They won’t allow him to fight someone else. They won’t allow a [Deontay] Wilder fight or a Joe Parker fight. It’s all about the rematch. That’s been very clear.”

Back in 2015, Tyson Fury found himself in a very similar situation and was stripped of his IBF belt.

Fury shocked Klitschko to capture the IBF, WBA, WBO, IBO titles. He was ordered to make a mandatory defense against Czar Glazkov - but Klitschko exercised an immediate rematch clause, which prevented Fury from facing Glazkov. The IBF stripped Fury when he advised the sanctioning body that he was unable to go forward with the Glazkov fight.