Anthony Joshua given deadline to agree terms to fight Kubrat Pulev or he risks losing his IBF belt

Anthony Joshua has been given until the end of the month by the International Boxing Federation (IBF) to agree on terms to fight mandatory challenger, Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev.

The British Nigerian boxer had recently reclaimed his titles in his rematch against Andy Ruiz Jnr. in Saudi Arabia in December 2019.

In a statement, an IBF spokesperson told Sky Sports: ‘I have just been told that the Pulev and Joshua camps have asked until January 31 to negotiate.’

If he fails to agree on conditions for a fight he could lose the belt. 

Joshua will also have to face Oleksandr Usyk, as he is the mandatory challenger to his WBO title before June 4th. But if he does not agree to meet the Ukrainian former cruiserweight king before then, he will be forced to vacate his belt.