Unified Heavyweight Champion, Anthony Joshua will now defend his IBF, WBA, WBO and IBO World Titles against Kubrat Pulev. The fight will take place at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, June 20, 2020.
The fight is a homecoming for Joshua who fought his last two in New York City and Saudi Arabia. The announcement comes after Deontay Wilder exercised his rematch clause for a trilogy fight with Tyson Fury.
“I’m back in my home city after some time away,” said Joshua. “A spectacular stadium has been built in North London and I’m honored to bring the boxing community from all over the world to witness us make history with the stadium’s first Heavyweight World Title fight. The belts go back up in the air and nothing will stop me from being victorious.”
Joshua (23-1, 21 KOs) recaptured his belts with a unanimous decision victory over Andy Ruiz Jr. in December. It was the first time a heavyweight world title was contested in the Middle East.
Homecoming
June 20 will be ‘AJ’s’ first fight on UK soil in nearly two years. Since then he has defended his crowns with a devastating seventh-round knockout of Russia’s Alexander Povetkin at Wembley Stadium.
Joshua is looking to set up an undisputed battle against the new WBC Champion, Tyson Fury.
Pulev (28-1, 14 KOs) gets his second shot at the world championship level. His last time was a defeat to Wladimir Klitschko in 2014. This was the only loss of his 29-fight professional career. He has won six fights in a row since then. Those victories include Derek Chisora and an IBF Eliminator win over Hughie Fury in 2018.
“I am happy to have the opportunity to show the world how strong I really am,” said Pulev. “Becoming a Heavyweight World Champion has always been my mission in life.”
The Bulgarian was set to challenge Joshua at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium in October 2017. However, he was forced to withdraw due to injury. Pulev will attempt to ruin AJ’s plans to face Fury in an all-British heavyweight showdown in the future.
