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Kubrat Pulev became the European (EBU) heavyweight champion in May 2012 by defeating Alexander Dimitrenko last year.
Then, Kubrat defeated Alexander Ustinov in the opening round of the IBF's four man eliminator back in September 2012.
He was supposed to fight Tomasz Adamek in the final, but Adamek dropped out. Now, the IBF is making Pulev wait for more long months for the winner of Cunningham-Fury. There is no guarantee Fury will fight Pulev if he wins.
Sauerland planned to put Pulev into a EBU title defense this spring instead of remaining inactive until he fights the winner of Cunningham-Fury.
However, the IBF has decided that Pulev will lose his status and not be allowed to fight in the final eliminator if he defends the EBU belt of takes an interim stay-active fight.
Is this fair? Why will the IBF not allow him to retain his ranking as the #1 IBF contender if he takes a fight to stay active?
When Eddie Chambers dropped out of the last four-fighter IBF eliminator, instead of fighting somebody else, Tony Thompson was declared IBF mandatory. But when Adamek dropped out, Pulev has to wait many months because the IBF has set up another semi-final eliminator. Does the IBF have a double standard?
"Inactivity ruins a fighter" - Cus D'Amato
Then, Kubrat defeated Alexander Ustinov in the opening round of the IBF's four man eliminator back in September 2012.
He was supposed to fight Tomasz Adamek in the final, but Adamek dropped out. Now, the IBF is making Pulev wait for more long months for the winner of Cunningham-Fury. There is no guarantee Fury will fight Pulev if he wins.
Sauerland planned to put Pulev into a EBU title defense this spring instead of remaining inactive until he fights the winner of Cunningham-Fury.
However, the IBF has decided that Pulev will lose his status and not be allowed to fight in the final eliminator if he defends the EBU belt of takes an interim stay-active fight.
Is this fair? Why will the IBF not allow him to retain his ranking as the #1 IBF contender if he takes a fight to stay active?
When Eddie Chambers dropped out of the last four-fighter IBF eliminator, instead of fighting somebody else, Tony Thompson was declared IBF mandatory. But when Adamek dropped out, Pulev has to wait many months because the IBF has set up another semi-final eliminator. Does the IBF have a double standard?
"Inactivity ruins a fighter" - Cus D'Amato
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