Kubrat Pulev is permitted to move forward with a voluntary defense of his secondary title.
A ruling by the WBA granted sanctioning for Pulev’s forthcoming WBA “Regular” heavyweight title defense against former unified cruiserweight titlist Murat Gassiev. The bout was already announced to take place on December 12 from Duty Free Tennis Stadium in Dubia, UAE.
At the time, the WBA had already ordered Bulgaria’s Pulev, 32-3 (14 KOs) to next face number one contender Moses Itauma, 13-0 (11 KOs). That matter quickly dissolved when it was revealed that the 44-year-old already had other plans, despite failing to notify the sanctioning body earlier.
An exception was filed by Epic Sports seeking permission to move forward with the IBA-Pro headliner in Dubai and to suspend negotiations with Itauma. Similarly, Itauma’s legal team filed a Motion of Opposition, in an effort to proceed with negotiations.
“The WBA has reviewed the letters submitted on this matter by legal counsel for Pulev and... Itauma,” WBA Championship Committee chairman Carlos Chavez noted in a ruling obtained by BoxingScene. “If the Special Permit Request (filed by Pulev) were to be denied, Pulev intends to reinstitute his previous appeal before the CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport)], thus pausing any title defense until a decision from thar body sometime in early 2026.
“In addition, if the WBA were forced to call for a purse bid for a Pulev-Itauma bout, such a bout also could not practically occur until 2026. Either situation would cause both Pulev and Itauma to have a significant period of inactivity, detrimental to both of them.”
Along with Pulev-Gassiev, Itauma has finally landed a fight date. He was due to headline a December 13 Queensberry show, which was since canceled due to failure to firm up the lineup – particularly the main event.
Itauma has since moved on to a January 24 clash with American heavyweight gatekeeper Jermaine Franklin in Manchester, England. With a win, he can expect to immediately return to the negotiating table
“To prevent such a scenario (of inactivity for either fighter or both), the WBA grants the Request of Pulev under the following conditions,” stated the ruling.
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The Pulev-Gassiev bout is approved.
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Itauma remains as the mandatory challenger… and shall fight against the winner (Pulev in case of a draw or non-decision).
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Itauma is authorized to participate in an optional bout against Jermaine [Franklin] on January 24, 2026.
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The winner of Pulev-Gassiev must fight Itauma for the regular championship. Negotiations will begin in January 25 and end on February 9. If no agreement is reached, the WBA will call for a purse bid, with a split of 50% for each contender.
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No special permit will be allowed until Itauma exercises his rights under the applicable championship rules.
Nowhere in the ruling does it state where the winner will eventually get a shot at the full WBA title held by lineal and unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, 24-0 (15 KOs).
Pulev won his belt in a 12-round decision win over Mahmoud Charr last December at home in Sofia, Bulgaria. He’s yet to make a title defense, in part due to the miserably failed development following an ordered mandatory against Michael Hunter.
The bout was ordered as part of a four-man box-off that didn’t see any of the fights pan out. The other side of it called for Fabio Wardley to face Jarrell Miller. He wound up meeting with Australia’s Justis Huni, against whom Wardley scored a dramatic 10th round knockout on June 8 in his hometown of Ipswich, London, England.
Wardley then went on to bump off New Zealand’s Joseph Parker in a come-from-behind 11th round stoppage on October 25 in London. The win positioned him as the WBO interim titlist and the mandatory challenger for that title. The full version of the belt is also held by Usyk, who will either have to next face the unbeaten contender or vacate at least his WBO title.
Gassiev is 6-1 in just seven heavyweight fights since the end of his unified cruiserweight title reign. The heavy-handed Russian held the WBA and IBF 200lbs titles but lost to Usyk in their July 2018 undisputed championship and World Boxing Super Series final in Moscow.
His lone defeat at heavyweight came in a September 2023 split decision to Otto Wallin in Antalya, Turkey. He’s since rebounded two wins, including a 6th round stoppage of Jeremiah Milton on August 23 in Miami, Florida.
