Unified world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua now has a date for his upcoming title defense against Kubrat Pulev.
According to ESPN's Dan Rafael, Joshua will fight Pulev, the IBF mandatory challenger, on October 28, likely in Cardiff, Wales.
Joshua was set to have his rematch against Wladimir Klitschko this fall after Joshua defeated Klitschko in April to become the unified IBF and WBA heavyweight champion. Klitschko retired several weeks ago, leaving Joshua to fight either Pulev or WBA mandatory challenger Luis Ortiz.
The location isn't 100 percent set in stone as the Joshua vs. Klitschko rematch was probably going to end up taking place in Las Vegas. Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn is going to be in Las Vegas for the Mayweather vs. McGregor fight as WBA "regular" light heavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly, another fighter Hearn promotes, is defending his title on the card against Badou Jack. Hearn will also be talking with executives from the MGM Grand about hosting Joshua's upcoming title defense.
Hearn detailed Joshua's upcoming fight schedule as the plan for the unbeaten champion is to fight Pulev, then Ortiz, then have major unification fight against WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder.
Since losing to Klitschko in 2014, Pulev has won all five of his fights, capturing the WBA Intercontinental Championship in the process.
