After months of dispute and uncertainty, Epic Sports & Entertainment, the official promoter of WBA regular heavyweight champion Kubrat Pulev, announced that it has successfully regained full control of Pulev’s first title defense following the invalidated purse bid previously “won” by Don King Productions. On May 27th, the WBA awarded the purse bid promotional rights for Pulev’s mandatory defense against Michael Hunter to Don King Productions. However, prior to the purse bid, Epic Sports objected to Pulev being ordered to fight Hunter because Hunter was in a legal dispute with Don King Productions and had committed to a different fight on September 11th. Following the recent confirmation of Hunter’s fight on September 11th against Jarrell Miller as well as the continuing public disclosure of the legal dispute between Hunter and Don King Productions, the WBA has now agreed to rescind the purse bid award. Under a signed settlement agreement between Pulev and the WBA, Pulev is no longer obligated to face Hunter and is cleared to make his first title defense against any ranked WBA contender on a voluntary basis. [Oleksandr Usyk remains the WBA super champion and the legitimate world heavyweight champion].
Ivaylo Gotzev, CEO of Epic Sports & Entertainment, said:
"We are ecstatic that justice has prevailed. We worked tirelessly to achieve this outcome. The resolution made by the WBA restores clarity and allows us to finally start planning proper negotiations for Kubrat’s first title defense. The heavyweight division is wide open, and we are now in position to stage a world-class event with renewed energy and excitement."
Kubrat Pulev commented:
"I’ve waited patiently while this situation played out, and now the path is clear. I am ready to defend my belt with honor before the end of 2025. The fans deserve a big fight, and I am motivated more than ever to deliver. I welcome all serious challengers who want to step into the ring with me."
John Wirt, Chairman of Epic Sports & Entertainment, added:
“From the outset, we made clear that Hunter was in a legal dispute with Don King Productions and already committed to a September 11 fight, so the WBA should never have ordered a Pulev–Hunter purse bid. DKP’s press release attacking Pulev is baseless. Pulev simply exercised his right to due process under the WBA’s own rules — and the facts prevailed.”
PRIOR BOXINGTALK COVERAGE
JULY 28, 2025: The WBA has again denied Epic Sports and Entertainment’s second appeal trying to stop the WBA's order of a regular title bout between secondary heavyweight title holder Kubrat “The Cobra” Pulev and Michael “The Bounty” Hunter who is promoted by Don King Promotions. Pulev does not want to fight [the underserving] Hunter but King won the $1.1 million WBA purse bid and has been given the green light by the WBA for a second time to move forward in staging this championship fight.
A Southern California native, Hunter is listed as 24-1-2 but that is a disingenuous record as it ignores an April 2024 loss to little-known Atem Suslenkov in Uzbekistan. In his last fight in December, Hunter registered a fifth-round TKO over Christian Larrondo Garcia in Mexico. Hunter’s only other career setback came back in 2017 when he lost a unanimous twelve-round decision to current world champion Oleksandr Usyk.
“After a bunch of lies and disposing of two appeals, we are moving forward with looking for possible sites and sponsorships for this heavyweight championship to be held before the end of the year,” said King. “Michael Hunter is excited for this great opportunity, and he plans to show the world that he will take the belt from Pulev."
