Anthony Joshua world title defence postponed

British unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua’s titles defence against Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev scheduled to take place at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on June 20 will have to wait after the match was postponed.

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In a statement, Joshua’s promoter Matchroom Boxing said a new date for the fight was being worked on after the bout became the latest flagship boxing event to be postponed. The third fight in Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder’s heavyweight rivalry also suffered the brunt of a postponement last month.

Anthony Joshua vs Kubrat Pulev date and venue confirmed as rivals ...
Anthony Joshua’s heavyweight title showdown against Bulgarian Kubret Pulev at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium scheduled for June has been postponed (Image: PA)

Matchroom said it was continuing to explore the possibility of hosting the bout – which sees Joshua’s IBF, WBA, WBO and IBO world titles being put on the line – at the same venue at a later date. The reigning champion has not fought since December, last year, where he punched his way to a unanimous points victory over Mexican-American boxer, Andy Ruiz Jr. Joshua’s current challenger in waiting, Pulev, is the mandatory challenger to the Brit’s IBF belt.

The Bulgarian was first scheduled to fight Joshua in October 2017 at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium before withdrawing less than two weeks before the bout due to a shoulder injury. British boxing promoter Eddie Hearn said previously the bout could be moved to July as there remains uncertainty over when Spur’s could play their remaining home fixtures after the football season in England went into an indefinite suspension on Friday.