A potential showdown between Jarrell Miller and newly-crowned WBA ‘regular’ heavyweight champion Kubrat Pulev has reportedly caught the attention of boxing power broker Turki Alalshikh.
Pulev claimed his trinket earlier this month, dethroning Mahmoud Charr, a vastly inactive veteran, with a comprehensive unanimous decision victory in Sofia, Bulgaria.
His title, though, must not be confused with the WBA’s full championship, currently held by heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk ahead of his rematch with Tyson Fury this Saturday.
Rather, Pulev’s strap carries little weight among the world-beaters of his division, despite having been previously held by IBF titlist Daniel Dubois.
Jarrell Miller and Kubrat Pulev could collide in Saudi Arabia
Boxing Scene has reported that Pulev’s representatives have asked the WBA for a ‘special permit,’ allowing him to make a voluntary defense against Miller in Saudi Arabia.
The potential heavyweight clash has also captured the imagination of Alalshikh, who is said to be keen on staging it at some point next year.
After all, the Saudi boxing chief has already built a relationship with Miller, with the American’s last two outings both appearing on Riyadh Season cards.
Following his crushing tenth-round stoppage defeat to Dubois last year, ‘Big Baby’ returned with a controversial draw against former heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz Jr in August.
Then, it appeared as though the 36-year-old would take on Derek Chisora – that is, until the British boxing veteran announced his dustup with Otto Wallin.
Pulev, meanwhile, has struggled to rebuild himself since losing to Anthony Joshua and Chisora, with the 43-year-old now seemingly prolonging the twilight years of his career.
Michael Hunter looks to become the mandatory challenger for Kubrat Pulev’s belt
In another development at the WBA convention, former cruiserweight world title challenger Michael Hunter has added his name to the mix.
Since losing to Usyk back in 2017, ‘The Bounty’ has beaten Martin Bakole and drawn with former world champion Alexander Povetkin in his two most notable heavyweight outings.
But now, coming off a wide unanimous decision victory over Cassius Chaney, the 36-year-old looks to scupper Pulev’s possible matchup against Miller.
While he is ranked third by the WBA, Hunter has been lobbying to get his mandatory position enforced, with Fury and Bakole – the two fighters ranked above him – chasing alternative options.