By Steve Kim
With a bid of just over $1.5 million Epic Sports and Entertainment seemingly came out of nowhere to win the IBF purse bid for the heavyweight elimination match between Kubrat Pulev and Dillian Whyte, far surpassing the bids of Matchroom Sports and Team Sauerland.
"We're going straight for the heavyweight division. We're excited we have such a great fight that we won the purse bid for," said the CEO of Epic Sports and Entertainment, Ivaylo Gotzev, who is a familiar name to boxing fans having managed the likes of Vasiliy Jirov, Sam Peter, Sergey Liakhovich and James Toney in the past.
Gotvez told BoxingScene.com - "We've been getting ready for this, we're excited to be dealing in the heavyweight division, two top 10 fighters. My fellow Bulgarian, Kubrat Pulev, I'm supporting him and we want to see this fight happen on good turf - we didn't want to see it go to England.
Epic Sports and Entertainment recently put on a show featuring Ricardo Mayorga in Texas.
Gotzev believes that they are here to stay and make their mark in the business.
"We threw a pretty good punch [with the IBF bid] so I guess we're ready to rock in the heavyweight division. It's a terrific fight, these guys are going for the number one spot (in the IBF), the winner fights (Anthony) Joshua," Gotzev said.
So yeah, there's another promoter on the scene in what is already a crowded market.
"Let's put it this way, there's room for everybody that's taking care of business," says Gotzev.
"If you''re good at what you do and deliver on promises and make great fights and deliver for the fans and to the networks. There's room for everybody all you have to do is perform. I've been in this business for 30 years so I think there's history there. I've been involved with many heavyweights."
Gotzev indicates that Epic Sports and Entertainment will be signing boxers and have a regular schedule of fight cards in the upcoming months that the company will announce soon.
"We're willing to work with all promoters and we're about collaboration and we'll basically make a deal with anyone that's sensible. Let's work together, collaboration works."
Steve Kim is the news editor for BoxingScene.com.
