IBF title eliminator, Pulev vs. Miller, 28.07.2018

[ValMar]

Sofia, Bulgaria, 01.09.2018............
Not so bad............

[joshj909]

“I’m happy to welcome Jerrell “Big Baby” Miller to Bulgaria. It will be an opportunity to showcase this exciting heavyweight matchup between us in front of grateful boxing fans,” Pulev announced via Twitter.

On June 25, 2017, Epic Sports & Entertainment won the IBF purse bid for the heavyweight elimination bout between Pulev and Miller with a whopping bid of $2,111,111. The next highest bidder, Sauerland Events, placed their offer at $1,000,010, less than 50% of Epic’s bid.

Epic had also won the previous IBF purse bid on May 24, 2018 for the Pulev vs. Dillian Whyte bout with a bid of over $1.5 million, but Whyte and his promoter, Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing, ended up pulling out and signing to fight Joseph Parker. Earlier in the year, on March 12, 2018, the IBF had ordered a heavyweight elimination bout between Pulev and Dominic Breazeale, but Breazeale too ultimately refused to fight Pulev.

“Miller’s promoter told the IBF that they wanted the fight and that Miller was available,” said Ivaylo Gotzev, CEO of Epic Sports.

“Contracts have been sent and it’s time for this battle to take place on September 1st in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. There is so much at stake as this bout will determine the mandatory challenger for the Champion Anthony Joshua.”

“Bulgaria is a Land of Beauty with great hospitality,” continued Gotzev. “The red carpet will be laid out for Miller like he has never seen before and he and his team will be welcomed with open arms.

"Since we won the purse bid on Monday, we’ve been in regular contact with Jarrell’s co-promoters, Salita Promotions and Greg Cohen Promotions.

"We explored with them doing the event here in the U.S., but Miller is apparently not yet a big enough draw to interest the major U.S. boxing networks and they have all turned down doing the fight here which is why we are taking it to Europe, where Kubrat is a huge celebrity and draw. All that is left is for Miller to sign.”

http://www.worldboxingnews.net/20180628 ... eliminator

Looks promising... but i'm not holding my breath until i hear from Miller

[joshj909]

Glad i didn't hold my breath

[Horse]

Glad i didn't hold my breathe

Why did the twit do the purse bid then?

He should not be allowed to fight for any IBF title for two years if he pulls out.

[joshj909]

Glad i didn't hold my breathe

Why did the twit do the purse bid then?

He should not be allowed to fight for any IBF title for two years if he pulls out.

Well, his team didn't bid. Which kinda more asks the question, if Bulgaria is his issue, why didn't his team bid (at all) for the fight to be in the US? I think Pulev is more the issue as he showed no ambition to have this fight.

He'll get dropped from the rankings like Whyte/Breazeale which leaves Povetkin at 3 (about to fight AJ) and Hughie Fury at 4. Fury to fight Pulev? he still wont be able to match these Bulgarian purse bids i dont think, but is he brave enough to go to Bulgaria?

[candyslim]

Glad i didn't hold my breathe

Why did the twit do the purse bid then?

He should not be allowed to fight for any IBF title for two years if he pulls out.

Well, his team didn't bid. Which kinda more asks the question, if Bulgaria is his issue, why didn't his team bid (at all) for the fight to be in the US? I think Pulev is more the issue as he showed no ambition to have this fight.

He'll get dropped from the rankings like Whyte/Breazeale which leaves Povetkin at 3 (about to fight AJ) and Hughie Fury at 4. Fury to fight Pulev? he still wont be able to match these Bulgarian purse bids i dont think, but is he brave enough to go to Bulgaria?

Well I guess it's a lot closer than New Zealand but I accept that may not be entirely the issue.

I wonder how Pulev fancies breaking (nearly) new ground and becoming a PPV star ... on You-tube?

[Enlightened-One]

Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller is already affiliated with the same promoter as Anthony Joshua (Eddie Hearn) and will likely receive far more than $528K for facing the Brit. Especially considering the American has already been lined up as AJ’s opponent for his US debut and also because I doubt Matchroom will allow him to fight on a rival promotion.

Unless Eddie Hearn is supremely confident about either: obtaining a licence for broadcasting the Pulev-Miller bout from Epic Sports for a price that still allows Matchroom to generate a profit; or if he feels that Big Baby's victory is almost guaranteed - then I doubt this fight happens.

I hope I'm wrong though, because I feel that a bout between Miller and Pulev will be pretty decent.

According to Dan Rafael (ESPN), Miller isn't interested in taking the Pulev bout.

I really dislike the political side of boxing, because it's easy to predict those bouts that won't happen.