Promoter Frank Warren says Kubrat Pulev must defend his WBA ‘Regular’ title against British heavyweight Moses Itauma next.
Bulgarian Pulev has announced plans to fight Russian Murat Gassiev on 12 December, despite being ordered to face 20-year-old Itauma.
Queensberry’s Warren, who promotes Itauma, said earlier this week that his team were “pursuing” a fight with Pulev.
That was after the WBA ordered the match-up and gave both sides 30 days to negotiate a deal.
But 44-year-old Pulev’s promoter Ivaylo Gotzev, who is the CEO of Epic Sports and Entertainment, said on Thursday that the WBA has agreed to let the veteran make a voluntary defence, rather than the mandatory Itauma fight.
BBC Sport has seen a WBA notice from 14 October that orders Pulev to take on Itauma as his next opponent.
Gotzev said: “Despite recent noise, we have an official WBA resolution authorising Kubrat Pulev’s first title defence to be a voluntary, and in line with that, we’ve locked in a terrific opponent in Murat Gassiev.”
In an earlier statement issued to media, Gotzev had claimed the Pulev-Gassiev fight was “signed and sealed” and that Itauma would have “to wait his turn”. It also said Itauma had been offered a place on the Pulev-Gassiev undercard.
An updated statement, however, removed direct mention of Itauma by name.
Speaking to BBC Sport on Thursday, Warren said: “Pulev has to fight Moses next.”
The WBA has been contacted for clarity.