A deal for Bulgarian heavyweight boxer Kubrat Pulev to fight American Tony Thompson is in place and only a sanctioning letter from IBF is needed to formally announce the contest, according to Pulev’s promoter.

“We signed the contact for Thompson to fight Pulev on August 24. The only matter left open is the approval of the IBF to sanction the bout as a final eliminator. Such sanction is the condition for both fighters to face each other,”Sauerland Event General Manager Chris Meyer has told Fightnews.com.

“I have no clue why the IBF has not yet approved the bout. #1 versus #4 with #2 vacant and #3 rated Jennings refusing the bout is the natural eliminator. Pulev was left inactive as he participated in the first eliminator bout versus Ustinov in September 2012, and then had to wait for his opponent for a final eliminator.”

“Pulev was treated badly by the IBF throughout these months. And now when there is a legitimate opponent in Thompson, the IBF doesn’t pick up the matter and leaves our request unanswered.”

Pulev is unbeaten in 17 fights with 9 knockouts. He won the title in May last year by knocking out Alexander Dimitrenko in eleven rounds and then knocked out Alexander Ustinov in September in eleven rounds in the first defence.

The Bulgarian is currently IBF International Heavyweight champion (2011) and European Boxing Union heavyweight champion (2012).