Joshua retains his titles in devastating fashion- Joshua vs Pulev
Anthony Joshua retains his WBA, WBO and IBF World Championships with a devastating knockout victory of Kubrat Pulev in the ninth round.
Joshua landed a destructive right hand that floored Pulev who was unable to survive the referee’s count.
The fight started slowly with very little being offered by either fighter. Both feinting and threatening with their jabs.
Joshua picked up the pace in the second round, landing his jab consistently and began to control the fight. Pulev struggled to land anything significant in the early stages of the fight with the Bulgarian’s shots missing the target.
The fight intensified in the third round. The champion began to land the cleaner shots and eventually rocked Pulev. Sharp combinations had the 38-year-old stumbling and eventually forcing him to turn his back whilst Joshua was landing heavy punches. The onslaught continued with the referee stepping in to administer a standing 10 count. Before round 3 was over, Pulev hit the canvas with Joshua nearly finishing the fight.
The fight settled down, with Joshua measuring Pulev with his jab. Pulev began to pressure Joshua more to try and close down the gap being maintained my Joshua.
The fight settled into a rhythm of Pulev applying pressure to Joshua with the champion trying to keep the dangerous Bulgarian at range. Joshua was reluctant with his jab in round 5 and 6, allowing himself to be walked down by Pulev.
Joshua picked up the pace again in the ninth round with the champion consistently peppering Pulev with jabs to the body. Joshua staggered the challenger again in the ninth and jumped at his chance to finish the fight. Three uppercuts in the clinch sent Pulev to the canvas, who survived the count. But a swift straight right hand put Pulev to the floor for the final time.
Joshua was sharp, quick and destructive in this fight. Exhibiting patience and boxing IQ at the right time allowed to Joshua to systematically break down Pulev.
After a year out of the ring this was a fantastic performance which set the stage for the unification bout between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury in 2021. Both have welcomed the challenge, "Whoever has the belts I want to compete with. If that is Tyson Fury, let it be Tyson Fury," said Joshua.
"I want the fight. I want the fight next. I will knock him out inside three rounds. I can't wait to knock him out." Fury posted to social media soon after the contest.
In his post-fight press conference, Joshua replied to Fury’s message over social media. “That’s good… At least I can get him in the ring.”
"It's good. I said he's talented and he will bring out the best in me. So that's brilliant. I've been to his fights, I've watched him, so when I fight him it will be good to change those odds and put them in my favour." Joshua concluded.
Joshua’s promoter is keen to get the fight done, "We just all want to make the fight. Now is the time. We will start the ball rolling. I don't think it's that difficult. The crux of the deal I have always said is agreed now in terms of numbers and money splits. There are only some minor details. So there's no reason we can't be up and running." Said Eddie Hearn.
Okolie Shines
Lawrence Okolie demolished Poland’s Jezewski on his way to a second-round knockout victory.
From the first bell, Okolie was sharp, fast and powerful with the Londoner stunning his opponent often throughout the first round.
Okolie sent his opponent staggering backwards twice in the first round, with the Polish fighter struggling to keep his legs underneath him. He hit the canvas and survived the referee’s count and the first round.
The fight was over shortly after the bell for the second. Okolie wobbled the Jezewski again and dropped him for a second time with the referee stopping the fight after the second knockdown.
Okolie will now target the World Title fight against Glowacki that was called off this week. This punch perfect performance by Okolie has proved that the Londoner is more than to step on the World stage.
