AJ will face a new man after the Bulgarian was forced to pull out.
Anthony Joshua will fight Carlos Takam in his world heavyweight title defence after an injury forced Kubrat Pulev to pull out.
Joshua was set to defend his WBA ‘Super’ and IBF heavyweight titles against the mandatory challenger in front of 80,000 fans at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on October 28, but injury has scuppered those immediate plans.
WATCH: @KubratPulev ruled out of world heavyweight title fight with @anthonyfjoshua. More on #SSN. pic.twitter.com/PU4VW6w5T1
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) October 16, 2017
Thankfully for fight fans, Takam will step into the ring to take on ‘AJ’ and the Frenchman is rated at No 3 with the governing body.
“I received a call from Kalle Sauerland late afternoon to inform me that Pulev had injured his shoulder and maybe ruled out of the fight – this was later confirmed by his doctor. IBF rules state that the mandatory will go to the next fighter in line which is Carlos Takam,” said Eddie Hearn to Sky.
Update.. Kubrat Pulev has a shoulder injury and is out. IBF install IBF No.3 Carlos Takam as mandatory..deal done to fight AJ on October 28
— Eddie Hearn (@EddieHearn) October 16, 2017
Hearn has also said that he previously touched base with Takam’s camp in the eventuality of such an injury to Pulev occurring.
“When the Pulev fight was announced I made a deal with Takam’s team to begin camp and be on standby for this fight.When I called them (on Monday evening) they were overjoyed and good to go. It’s a difficult position for AJ having prepared meticulously for the style and height of Pulev, he now faces a completely different style and challenge in Takam – this hasn’t happened in his career before but he is ready for all comers on October 28.”
Eddie Hearn says he made a deal with Carlos Takam's team to be on standby in case Kubrat Pulev pulled out when they first signed the fight.
— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) October 16, 2017
