By Rick Reeno

As previously reported on BoxingScene.com, heavyweight contender Tomasz Adamek (48-2, 29 KOs) has decided to withdraw from an ordered IBF final eliminator with Kubrat Pulev (17-0, 9 KOs). Adamek issued a statement earlier to explain his reasons for pulling away from the Kubrat opportunity. The winner of the eliminator would become the mandatory challenger to unified champion Wladimir Klitschko.

The decision is odd, because Adamek took part in the IBF's four man elimination tournament, and knew ahead of time that he would facing the winner of Pulev and Alexander Ustinov. Adamek won a controversial split decision over Steve Cunningham in the first part of the IBF's tournament, while Pulev knocked Ustinov out in second half of the four man tournament.

“I have been offered an opportunity to fight in Poland for far more money than I would get for fighting Kubrat Pulev,” Adamek said in a statement released Wednesday by his co-promoter, Main Events. “Meaning no disrespect to Pulev, he has never held a major title and never headlined a televised card. Any money generated by the promotion would, for the most part, be generated by my popularity. I owe it to my family to engage in the most financially rewarding bouts, and engaging in a bout with Kubrat Pulev at this time simply does not make financial sense.”

Chris Meyer, the General Manager for Kubrat's promoter Sauerland Event, plans to keep his boxer busy. No decision has been made on whether or not Pulev will be ordered to face another opponent in a new mandatory eliminator or if the IBF plans to make him the mandatory challenger due to Adamek's withdrawal.

"We were looking forward to the match and were very optimistic to get a good deal and promotion done together with Main Events. However, as Mr Adamek preferred to take an easier route we can not help it; we wish him well. We will now look as to whether the IBF will find a worthy and available contender in order to fight Pulev in a final eliminator. We would prefer now to arrange a defense of the EBU belt for Kubrat," Meyer told BoxingScene.com.