KUBRAT PULEV is in line to face the winner of Anthony Joshua's rematch with Andy Ruiz Jr after his boxing ban was overturned.

A victory over Bogdan Dinu in March was overshadowed by the Bulgarian planting an unwanted kiss on the lips of reporter Jenny Sushe.

Initially refusing to apologise for the incident, Pulev said sorry some time later while defending it as an "expression of joy".

The heavyweight contender was slapped with a sexual harassment awareness course, a £2,000 fine as well as the six-month suspension from boxing by the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC).

Two months after the suspension began, Pulev confirmed on Monday night that he was free to fight again.

The 38-year-old tweeted: “The good news has come from the California State Athletic Commission. With a complete majority, they abolished the ban at today’s meeting."

When Pulev steps back into the ring, his opponent is expected to be Joshua or Ruiz Jr.

The pair are set to rematch at the end of the year but the venue is yet to be determined.

Having initially won in New York, the Mexican-American wants his opponent to return to the States.

But Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn has threatened legal action if the date isn't set on his terms, including holding the fight in Cardiff.

A potential warm-up contest to help the Brit bounce back from the June defeat is also off the table, according to Hearn.

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