Kubrat ‘The Cobra’ Pulev is very confident in his ability to beat the current IBF, IBO, WBA, WBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.
The Bulgarian has only lost once and that was to the imperious Wladimir Klitschko in 2014 but the biggest question mark will be the stamina to stay switched on for 12 rounds.
Matchroom Boxing promoter, Eddie Hearn, has said with Pulev approaching 39 years of age on the night of the fight, it’s likely that his best days are behind him.
“One thing that Pulev has got is great activity. He’s getting older but he has been nice and active. Ivaylo Gotzev is Pulev’s long-term advisor, friend and hometown promoter, deluded is the wrong word but he is so close to Pulev that he believes this is their moment, their time. The stuff they saw in the Andy Ruiz Jr fight? They think they can beat Joshua.” Hearn said.
“Then there’s his promoter Bob Arum who is telling everyone that Pulev is going to knock Joshua out. Maybe that’s just Bob Arum, ‘yesterday I was lying, today ‘’m telling the truth is his famous line. It’s intriguing.
“I feel that Joshua vs Pulev is a really good fight. Two big stand-up heavyweights who can really punch. Pulev has a lot of experience and good ring IQ.” Hearn added.
Joshua became a two-time world heavyweight champion with a unanimous points victory over Andy Ruiz Jr in a tense rematch in Saudi Arabia back in December 2019. Meanwhile, Hearn believes the pressure is on the Brit to knockout Pulev in a few rounds.
“Joshua will look to make a statement. He had to box that way against Ruiz Jr because there was no room for error but now people are saying: ‘Show us the knockouts again’. The pressure is on AJ to produce a knockout. Two big men will trade shots.” Hearn said.
