Kubrat Pulev

At a glance

Source: Wikipedia: Kubrat Pulev¹

Career story

Pulev competed as an amateur heavyweight and super-heavyweight for Bulgaria. He won bronze at the 2005 World Championships and bronze at the 2006 European Championships, followed by European gold in 2008. He also won medals at the European Union Championships in 2004 and 2005. After qualifying for the 2008 Olympic Games, he lost his first bout to Colombia’s Óscar Rivas.¹

He turned professional in September 2009 in Germany, winning his first four bouts that year. In 2012 he stopped Alexander Dimitrenko in the 11th round to win the vacant European heavyweight title. He later defended the title against Alexander Ustinov and became the IBF’s number one contender. In 2013, he beat Tony Thompson by unanimous decision in a 12-round final eliminator.¹

Title challenges

Pulev’s first world heavyweight title challenge came against Wladimir Klitschko in November 2014. Klitschko knocked him out in the fifth round. Pulev returned to competition in 2015 and went on to defeat Derek Chisora by split decision in 2016, winning the vacant European heavyweight title for a second time.¹

In 2018, Pulev beat Hughie Fury by unanimous decision in a 12-round bout to become the mandatory challenger for the IBF heavyweight title. He signed a multi-year co-promotional deal with Top Rank later that year. In 2019, he defeated Bogdan Dinu by seventh-round technical knockout.¹

Titles and record

Pulev held several regional heavyweight titles during his professional career, including the European title twice between 2012 and 2016. He also held the WBA Inter-Continental heavyweight title, which he won in 2016 after Samuel Peter retired following the third round of their bout.¹

Pulev held the WBA (Regular) heavyweight title from 2024 to 2025. His professional record is 32 wins, including 14 by knockout, and four losses from 36 fights.¹

He held the WBA (Regular) heavyweight title from 2024 to 2025.¹