Anthony Joshua must pass a difficult test in Kubrat Pulev before possibly facing Tyson Fury in 2021 - CBSSports.com
Anthony Joshua must pass a worry test in Kubrat Pulev before possibly facing Tyson Fury in 2021
With the Tyson Fury-Deontay Wilder rivalry seemingly unhurried us for the time being, the crusades to make in heavyweight boxing -- and probable the biggest the sport could produce -- is an undisputed championship bout between Fury and Anthony Joshua for all four accepted titles.
Promoters and fans alike remain hopeful it's a unification matchup that can be made in 2021 performed both fighters can get through mandatory title defenses kindly unscathed. Step one of that process begins on Saturday for Joshua (23-1, 21 KOs) as the WBA, WBO and IBF champion faces Kubrat Pulev (28-1, 14 KOs) in clue of a quarantine friendly 1,000 fans inside London's Wembley Arena.
The 12-month layoff has turned out to be a blessing in disguise for the 31-year-old Joshua behindhand what was a tumultuous 2019 to say the least. Not only did he lose his U.S. debut via splendid knockout to Andy Ruiz Jr., the slow of England was heavily criticized for how safely he outpointed Ruiz in their September rematch in Saudi Arabia.
"After that loss, I realized what manufacturing I'm in and it's a non-forgiving industry," Joshua told Yahoo Sports last week. "I had to box and out maneuver him. I didn't want to make any mistakes so I granted to box on the back foot.
"Having this crusades pushed back 12 months, it allowed me to not work to a perilous opponent or deadline but just to work to loathe myself mentally, tactically and physically. I have had a nice footings where I dedicated myself to the gym and the gym has imparted itself to me. I have not been unnerved about anyone else."
Depending upon any exemptions given by the sanctioning populace, Joshua could end up needing to defeat both Pulev and worn undisputed cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usyk in separate mandatories afore a Fury fight could be made. Fury, since, is due a mandatory for his WBC title that must come from the winner of the delayed Alexander Povetkin-Dillian Whyte rematch.
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Wilder, whom Fury ended in their February rematch, missed his window to activate a mandatory rematch phrase during the quarantine, according to Fury co-promoter Bob Arum. Wilder has refuted the opinion and said publicly he plans to take lawful action to force a trilogy bout.
While both Joshua and Fury dismove to be on the same wavelength in wanting this superfight, the 39-year-old Pulev is rightfully having none of it.
"I don't bear this fight is going to happen because I win Saturday night," Pulev said during a novel interview with Joshua promoter Matchroom Sport. "I think the earth needs a new world champion like me. I think at what time this fight, I'm going to fight with Tyson Fury. It's causing to be good.
"We see a lot of mistakes from Anthony, lot of bad sides. I think these mistakes have stayed and I will take it and be good."
Joshua referred to the Pulev fights as a potential "banana skin" in that it's a fights he's expected to win that would lead him to much bigger things. With that brings fantastic pressure, which he dealt poorly with int he Ruiz fight.
Pulev's lone defeat came in a 2014 title loss to Wladimir Klitschko in which he was plenty game and aggressive but was eventually knocked out. The wearisome of Bulgaria has won eight straight trusty and originally secured the mandatory status for this fights in 2017 until an injury forced him to withdraw. Joshua ultimately scored a exclusive over that Carlos Takam.
Asked how he considerable get up for a fight against Pulev that doesn't hold the same communication as the more desired Fury fight, Joshua said it's attractive easy because "I've lost before and I don't want to do that again." But one getting Joshua isn't willing to entertain are the opinions of others -- Fury engaged -- as he hopes to get one step closer to a 2021 showdown that would effectively yelp who is the best heavyweight in the world.
"I've realized that no one lives in my head rent free," Joshua said. "Tyson Fury doesn't live in my head. Deontay Wilder doesn't live in my head. I'm toiling hard paying my own rent. I'm just focused on myself. Whether farmland call Tyson Fury No. 1 is down to Pro-reDemocrat opinion. In my world, I'm No. 1 but the only way to disfavor that is to answer it in the ring. That's why the Pulev fights is important because I have to go in there and effect and it would lead me towards proving who is No. 1."
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