How did Pulev become mando for Joshua

[Sugarhitman]

April 2016 IBF ratings, posted by the IBF on May 4, 2016:


1 NOT RATED
2 NOT RATED
3 Carlos Takam France
4 Joseph Parker New Zealand
5 Kubrat Pulev Bulgaria
6 Derek Chisora Zimbabwe


Later that month, 5 fought 6 to become 2 and 3 fought 4 to become 1.

Well then, you are correct. So Joshua will likely be stripped by the WBA, a title he fought hard for in contrast to his win of the IBF belt...So shouldnt he defend the WBA belt, which he should regard as more important than the IBF belt?

[N/A]

Well then, you are correct. So Joshua will likely be stripped by the WBA, a title he fought hard for in contrast to his win of the IBF belt...So shouldnt he defend the WBA belt, which he should regard as more important than the IBF belt?

If Joshua is really willing to face Ortiz within 120 days of facing Pulev, there's a very good chance he'll be allowed to keep both belts.

He fought harder to win the IBF belt. Not because the fight itself was harder, but because he fought his whole career to climb the rankings as opposed to a vacant "super" title being thrown into a fight because Klitschko had the political stroke to make it happen.

The IBF belt is what Joshua won first and it's the one he won in a proper manner (facing the champion and knocking him out). The IBF is also the organization his promoter is most closely associated with. The IBF is also the most predictable and they're not about to crown a secondary champion like the WBA is.

Until the WBA eliminates all of their super titles, the IBF championship is going to continue to have more credibility.

[Sugarhitman]

If Joshua is really willing to face Ortiz within 120 days of facing Pulev, there's a very good chance he'll be allowed to keep both belts.

He fought harder to win the IBF belt. Not because the fight itself was harder, but because he fought his whole career to climb the rankings as opposed to a vacant "super" title being thrown into a fight because Klitschko had the political stroke to make it happen.

The IBF belt is what Joshua won first and it's the one he won in a proper manner (facing the champion and knocking him out). The IBF is also the organization his promoter is most closely associated with. The IBF is also the most predictable and they're not about to crown a secondary champion like the WBA is.

Until the WBA eliminates all of their super titles, the IBF championship is going to continue to have more credibility.

Oh come on...Joshua didnt fight anyone to face Charles Martin and he won that belt without breaking a sweat in 2 rds against a guy who didnt win it....He went life and death against his best opponent to date to acquire the WBA belt...and Hearn and AJ know that the WBA put up their belt with the order for the winner to face Ortiz next.

[N/A]

Oh come on...Joshua didnt fight anyone to face Charles Martin and he won that belt without breaking a sweat in 2 rds against a guy who didnt win it....He went life and death against his best opponent to date to acquire the WBA belt...and Hearn and AJ know that the WBA put up their belt with the order for the winner to face Ortiz next.

We explained the reasons AJ and his promoter value the IBF title over the WBA title. If you value the WBA title over the IBF title, no problem. It's obviously a matter of opinion.

Joshua was IBF #4 when he fought for the title (#1 and #2 were vacant). He was about to be ordered for an eliminator to become the mandatory, but his promoter was able to negotiate a voluntary title shot.

Surely his win over Klitschko is his defining moment, but Klitschko entered as a challenger, not a champion. The vacant WBA super title being on the line was nice window dressing, but it's the IBF title AJ was defending.