KUBRAT PULEV’S stunning girlfriend Andrea has defended the shamed boxer after he “forcefully kissed” a female reporter and allegedly “groped her on the buttocks”.
The Bulgarian pop star insisted the smooch “was a joke” after her heavyweight star boyfriend was suspended for planting one on the journalist’s mouth.
Jenny Sushe is taking legal action against Pulev for the unsavoury snog but Andrea told SunSport that the reporter should be the one on trial for defaming his character.
The 32-year-old said: “This is very serious. This is his life. I find this to be extremely unjust, it is killing him.
“He lives with boxing and a sanction like this one is crushing him.
“He is the victim! She should be sued for degradation of the prestige. That is serious.
I find this to be extremely unjust, it is killing him. The whole world saw that she enjoyed it.
Kubrat Pulev's girlfriend Andrea
In a clip which went viral, Sushe, real name Jennifer Ravalo, asks a bloodied Pulev whether he deserves a shot at Tyson Fury following his victory over Bogan Dinu.
The IBF’s No1 heavyweight contender replied “yes” before putting his hand on the reporter’s chin and kissing her on the lips.
Andrea, real name Teodora Rumenova Andreeva, admitted she was angry about the smooch but disputed Ravalo’s claims that she found the ordeal “strange.”
She said: “I am shocked! We even fought about it. 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.
“I am incredibly afflicted and sad. I cannot believe that there can be so evil people in the world.”
Pulev, who almost fought Anthony Joshua in 2017, was hit by a huge backlash for the incident, but insisted the pair are “friends” and “laughed about it later”.
But the Vegas Sports Daily journalist claims she only met the 37-year-old earlier that day and that he asked for the forceful smooch to be left out of the clip.
Pulev’s team responded by sharing photos and videos of Ravalo that allegedly shows the reporter attending an after-party with the under-fire boxer.
Andrea, who immediately showed her support for her partner online, also revealed the pair DID know each other before the post-fight interview.
She added: “Of course it is true! They knew each other for more than 10 minutes.
“She was acting very warm towards him since the previous day and they talked closer than a journalist should speak to an athlete.
“She is lying in an ugly way and twists the truth.”
Pulev was suspended by the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) over the matter and the veteran star has been summoned to explain his actions on May 14.
The CSAC announced the decision to withhold his licence over his actions, branding his behaviour “disgusting, unwelcome and unlawful”.
Ravalo has since hired high-profile lawyer Gloria Allred to fight her case against Pulev – hoping she can “help impose consequences” on the under-fire boxer.
Allred, 77, specialises in sexual assault cases and is described as “the most famous woman attorney practising law in America today” on her official website.
Sushe said: “I asked Kubrat for a post-fight interview and he said yes. I started the interview and mid-interview he grabbed my face and kissed me.
“I was immediately shocked and embarrassed and I did not know how to respond.
“Next I walked to a table to put my items in my backpack.
“He grabbed both of my buttocks and squeezed with both of his hands, then he walked away without saying anything to me and laughed.”
