Don King Wins Purse Bid to Promote WBA Heavyweight Title Clash Between Kubrat Pulev and Michael Hunter

Legendary Hall of Fame boxing promoter Don King has secured the rights to promote a major heavyweight showdown, winning a $1.1 million purse bid from the WBA. The bout will feature current WBA (Regular) Heavyweight World Champion Kubrat “The Cobra” Pulev defending his title against WBA No. 2-ranked contender Michael “The Bounty” Hunter on Saturday, August 23, at a venue to be announced.

The event will also mark a personal celebration for King, who turns 94 years old just days before the fight, on August 20. Possible locations under consideration include Florida, Las Vegas, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, with a final decision to be made soon.

About the Fighters

Kubrat Pulev (32-3, 14 KOs), a seasoned 44-year-old veteran and fan favorite in his native Sofia, Bulgaria, captured the WBA (Regular) World Heavyweight Title with a unanimous decision victory over Mahmoud Charr last December. Known for his durability and ring IQ, Pulev has consistently remained a factor in the heavyweight title picture.

Michael Hunter (24-1-2, 17 KOs), hailing from Southern California, currently holds the WBA Gold Heavyweight Title, which he won in June with a dominant 12-round unanimous decision over Cassius Chaney at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida. He followed that up with a fifth-round TKO of Christian Larrondo Garcia in December in Mexico.

Hunter’s lone career defeat came in 2017 against the now-undisputed heavyweight and cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, who recently cemented his legacy by defeating Tyson Fury to become just the third man in the four-belt era to unify titles in two divisions.

A High-Stakes Showdown

The matchup between Pulev and Hunter represents a pivotal clash in the heavyweight division, with both fighters looking to solidify their claims to world championship status and potentially position themselves for a shot at full unification.

As the date approaches, boxing fans around the world will be watching closely—not just for the fight itself, but to celebrate yet another milestone in the storied career of Don King, one of boxing's most iconic figures.