Kubrat Pulev’s popstar girlfriend Andrea, who defended him for kissing journalist, set to be ringside for Joshua fight

KUBRAT PULEV will hope he can count on stunning girlfriend Andrea to be in his corner if his world title fight against Anthony Joshua is confirmed.

The Bulgarian has been named as the IBF mandatory to face AJ after the Brit became a two-time world heavyweight champion against Andy Ruiz Jr on Saturday.

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Pulev, 38, has had a month to remember in and outside the ring following a year marred by controversy.

His love life has been turbulent, with Andrea, a former Miss Sofia, revealing in a since-deleted Instagram post this summer that she was separated from the heavyweight boxer after almost 13 years together.

However, Bulgarian outlet claimed the boxer is back together with folk singer Andrea after the two were reportedly spotted at a hotel together in Plovdiv.

Earlier in the year Andrea, 32, stood by her man after he became embroiled in scandal.

She publicly defended Pulev for forcibly kissing female journalist Jennifer Ravalo in an exclusive interview with SunSport.

The California State Athletic Commission immediately suspended Pulev over his actions, however, in his defence his brother responded by sharing a video of the reporter dancing with a member of the boxer's entourage on that same night.

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Andrea told SunSport: "I know him very well, he is a joker with a huge sense of humour. I know he did it as a joke.

"The girl responded to his kiss. She smiled! The whole world saw that she enjoyed it. It was a sweet surprise for her.

"I guess after that somebody took advantage of the situation and gave her horrible advice to do that. That makes Kubrat the victim."

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Pulev, who has always denied any wrongdoing, had his boxing licence reinstated by the CSAC four months later after he completed a sexual harassment prevention class.

He is now set to be given a second chance to face Joshua, after he was forced to pull out of the two's clash in Cardiff back in 2017 through injury and replaced by Carlos Takam.

Following AJ's win in Saudi Arabia, Pulev tweeted: "I want to congratulate AJ and Eddie on regaining the title and look forward to facing AJ in his next bout, as the IBF has ordered. The result is going to be different this time, I guarantee it!"

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