Fabio Wardley’s team are “pretty confident” that his proposed fight with Kubrat Pulev will be staged in Britain.

The WBA have ordered Pulev, their “regular” heavyweight champion, to defend his title against the 30-year-old Wardley, and to that end will order purse bids for a fight between them.

Wardley is to vacate his British title – it will be contested by David Adeleye and Jeamie Tshikeva on April 5 – and, according to his manager Michael Ofo, Wardley’s promoter Frank Warren is prepared to “go in heavy” to bring Bulgaria’s Pulev, 43, to the UK.

The heavy-handed Wardley has made little secret of his desire to fight at Portman Road, the home of his favourite football team Ipswich Town, and Ofo told BoxingScene: “It’s going to go to purse bids, against Pulev, so we’re just waiting to see what happens. It’s an exciting time for Fabio. He’s away training; he’s excited.

“We’re pretty confident that Frank will win. Frank backs Fabio Wardley to the nines, and he sees his potential – hence Fabio signed with Queensberry [Promotions]. We expect Frank and Queensberry to go in heavy and back their guy. 

“All doors are open – we’re still open to negotiations. It’d be a little silly of me to say when and where, but he’s keen to get out as soon as possible, so we’re hoping that’ll be the summer.

“He will do whatever it takes to win that title [including travel to Bulgaria]. But I’m pretty confident that it’ll be on British shores.”

Ipswich’s final home fixture of the Premier League season falls on May 25, against West Ham United. The only likely dates for a fight to be staged there therefore exist between June and mid-August.

“They’ve got some windows of opportunity that we would have to explore and look at,” Ofo continued. “Whether it’s winning the title or going back there to defend once he wins the title, it’ll definitely happen.

“The ideal for Fabio would be to be in Ipswich. He’s always said he wants to fight there – it would be a dream, Portman Road. That would be the dream come true for him.”