Pulev Ahead of Adamek. Sauerland Sees No Room for Another Eliminator

Kalle Sauerland, promoter of Kubrat Pulev from the German Sauerland Event group, told “PS” that his fighter, not Tomasz Adamek, will face Wladimir Klitschko as the IBF’s mandatory challenger.

- By beating Tony Thompson, Kubrat Pulev was supposed to become the IBF’s mandatory challenger…
Kalle Sauerland: He won, became the mandatory challenger, and still is.

- So why are we hearing about possible bouts between your group’s fighter and Tomasz Adamek or Dereck Chisora?
KS: The situation with Chisora is clear. The EBU has ordered a purse bid for a European heavyweight title fight, but we are interested exclusively in the world champion, Wladimir Klitschko. After his expected victory over Alex Leapai (the fight will take place on April 26 in Oberhausen — editor’s note), the IBF will immediately order negotiations for a bout between the Ukrainian and Pulev. A year ago, the position of mandatory challenger in that organization was vacant. A tournament was held, after which we were instructed to negotiate a fight with Adamek. We were close to reaching an agreement and were planning an event in Poland, but your fighter broke off negotiations, claiming that a bout with Pulev was not financially attractive. That is strange, considering that the IBF ordered an equal split of the purses or — I don’t remember exactly — perhaps even a 60-40 split in Adamek’s favor.

- Adamek is not denying today that you could return to negotiations, and that he might cross gloves with Pulev in Poland in the autumn.
KS: That is completely ridiculous, but Adamek probably wants there to be publicity surrounding his fight with Vyacheslav Glazkov. It is no surprise that he says this. I’m sorry, but Tomasz had his opportunity a year ago and should have taken it. He could have beaten Pulev and earned the right to face Wladimir. Instead, he lost more than a year, and on Saturday he is fighting an opponent of Glazkov’s caliber. That shows what a bad decision he made. I was impressed by his performances at light heavyweight and cruiserweight, but I cannot say the same about his bouts at heavyweight. In my opinion, he is too small for the division.

- So Adamek should not expect a fight with Pulev?
KS: Absolutely not. Would Kubrat give up the mandatory challenger position he has already earned in order to fight another eliminator? That would make no sense whatsoever.

- After beating Leapai, as will probably happen, will the Bulgarian become Klitschko’s first opponent?
KS: Yes, because under the regulations it will be time for a mandatory defense of the IBF title. The rules are very clear, after all, and I think Wladimir himself is slowly preparing for a fight with Pulev. Granted, he still has Leapai in front of him, but very few people can imagine Klitschko losing. His opponent could, however, prove dangerous in the first two rounds.

- What about the WBO eliminator? Apparently Pulev and Chisora could fight not only for the European title, but also for first place in that federation’s rankings. The problem is that Leapai is the mandatory challenger…
KS: Exactly. He became the mandatory challenger after beating Denis Boytsov, and he is entering his bout with Wladimir from that position. This means that there will be as much as two years before the next mandatory WBO title defense. Such a long wait obviously does not suit us. Kubrat is the IBF challenger and wants to fight Klitschko as soon as possible.

- And if Pulev were to beat Adamek or Chisora first, wouldn’t that victory improve your position before negotiations with Klitschko’s camp?
KS: Chisora is a good fighter, and I do not deny that he and Pulev would put on an interesting show. However, since Kubrat took a risk and entered a difficult fight with Thompson, who had previously recorded two impressive victories (he knocked out David Price twice — editor’s note), he does not need another test. Thompson also deserves praise, because he was the only one who did not run from a fight with Kubrat. Adamek did not want to take the risk, nor did Bryant Jennings or Tyson Fury. They all refused. That says a lot about Pulev’s sporting capabilities.

- So you will not take part in Tuesday’s purse bid for the fight with Chisora?
KS: We will make a decision on Sunday.

- So perhaps you are still waiting for the result of the Adamek–Glazkov fight?
KS: The result is no mystery to me even now. The fight should not be any more difficult for Adamek than the exercises he does during his warm-up.

- To sum up, there is absolutely no chance of an Adamek–Pulev fight taking place in 2014?
KS: It will not take place before the Klitschko–Pulev fight. If Kubrat beats Wladimir, we can then consider Adamek as a candidate for a fight in the first defense of the titles.

Interview by: Przemysław Osiak, przegladsportowy