Ivaylo Gotzev, co-promoter for a heavyweight contender, Kubrat Pulev, recently lashed out at Eddie Hearn – who promotes IBF, IBO, WBA, WBO world champion Anthony Joshua.
Pulev is the IBF’s mandatory challenger to Joshua.
Their fight was scheduled to take place on June 20th in London, but it was pushed back due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The fight was initially scheduled to happen back in 2017. The contest never came off when Pulev withdrew with an injury.
Gotzev makes allegations that Hearn is dragging his feet in scheduling a new date for the fall and feels there are ‘games’ being played during talks.
“Eddie is known for saying one thing and doing another,” Gotzev told the Daily Mail.
“He needs to organise his thoughts and form of doing contracts and obligations and dealing with people, because in the long run it’s going to create a lot of animosities and people are going to think twice about doing business with Eddie. Eddie does not come through as a guy who delivers on his promises. Let’s get after Hearn and the champ because enough is enough. He hasn’t got his stuff together, we are still waiting for a new date.
“I understand that the whole world has to reset somewhat, but people in the fight game are back in business. We are hoping Eddie might take note and start making some moves – but we are still waiting for those moves. I understand that he wrote a nice book, I can’t wait to see his brilliance in this book. I want to learn from a brilliant guy like Eddie Hearn, meanwhile, we’re just sitting here waiting for a date.”
Gotzev explained that his boxer if highly motivated and he expects to witness a knockout ending.
He believes Joshua is overlooking his fighter by always discussing a 2021 two-fight deal with Tyson Fury.
“Kubrat is going to be in his face. Kubrat is in beast mode, he’s ready to take this man and shred him into pieces. The knockout is coming. You’ve got to be able to take it, not only give it, can he take it? That’s the question,” Gotzev said.
read also:Eddie Hearn: Joshua set to fight Pulev at Tottenham Stadium in June
“They’re focusing too much on those big paydays and the big picture, but guess what, the big picture right now is Kubrat, that’s who they should be focusing on. And he will give AJ the fight of his life. Pulev will take him out of the competition when he knocks him out. Kubrat’s thinking: let them do all the planning, then let me get that Tyson Fury fight. Because defeating AJ will create a great podium for a Tyson Fury showdown.”