Pulev ‘has to face Itauma’, not Gassiev – Warren

Promoter Frank Warren says Kubrat Pulev must defend his WBA ‘regular’ title against British heavyweight Moses Itauma next.

Bulgarian Pulev has announced plans to fight Russian Murat Gassiev on 12 December, despite being ordered to face 20-year-old Itauma.

Queensberry’s Warren, who promotes Itauma, said earlier this week that his team were “pursuing” a fight with Pulev.

That was after the WBA ordered the match-up and gave both sides 30 days to negotiate a deal.

But 44-year-old Pulev’s promoter Ivaylo Gotzev, who is the CEO of Epic Sports and Entertainment, said on Thursday that the WBA has agreed to let the veteran make a voluntary defence, rather than the mandatory Itauma fight.

Gotzev said: “Despite recent noise, we have an official WBA resolution authorising Kubrat Pulev’s first title defence to be a voluntary, and in line with that, we’ve locked in a terrific opponent in Murat Gassiev.”

In an earlier statement issued to media, Gotzev had claimed the Pulev-Gassiev fight was “signed and sealed” and that Itauma would have “to wait his turn”. It also said Itauma had been offered a place on the Pulev-Gassiev undercard.

An updated statement, however, removed direct mention of Itauma by name.

BBC Sport has seen a WBA notice from 14 October that orders Pulev to take on Itauma as his next opponent.

Speaking to BBC Sport on Thursday, Warren said: “Pulev has to fight Moses next.”

Chatham fighter Itauma, 20, extended his undefeated record to 13 wins with 11 knockouts by stopping former world title challenger Dillian Whyte inside two minutes in August.

Filip Hrgovic, Michael Hunter and domestic rival David Adeleye have been suggested among other potential opponents as Itauma looks to move closer to a world title shot.

Gotzev had said in the initial media statement that an undercard slot for Itauma on the Pulev-Gassiev bill would be “the perfect stage for him to face the winner of the main event” and would be in keeping with WBA plans.

Team Pulev now say that an agreement with the WBA had been violated and they expect the order to fight Itauma to be withdrawn.