Anthony Joshua vs Kubrat Pulev could be called off after Bulgarian suffers a training injury
AJ's bout in Cardiff next weekend faces being scrapped after an injury to his opponent
ANTHONY JOSHUA's world title defence next week could be OFF after a shock training injury to his opponent Kubrat Pulev.
Bulgarian slugger Pulev damaged muscles in his right shoulder during a sparring session at his training camp in Germany.
Pulev suffered the injury 10 days ago but it was kept secret by his camp.
His management team Sauerland are understood not to have informed fight promoter Eddie Hearn, who is behind the Joshua bill.
But the news about the 36-year-old’s injury, understood to be muscle strains and tears from his right shoulder down to his chest, puts the entire event at risk.
More than 70,000 tickets had already been sold with a 78,000 full house expected to fill the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday week.
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Joshua’s IBF and WBA crowns are due to be on the line in his first fight since ending Wladimir Klitschko’s career at Wembley in April.
Pulev, known as “The Cobra”, was the mandatory challenger for the IBF belt which has seen US network Showtime pay around £1.3m to screen the fight.
The Bulgarian has won 25 of his 26 fights, with 13 knock-outs, his lone defeat coming when he was beaten in five rounds by Klitschko in 2014.
But if the main event is postponed it will not be until rescheduled until the spring, causing real frustration for the Watford fighter and his army of fans.
The Sun Online has contacted promoters Matchroom Boxing for comment.
