Anthony Joshua vs. Kubrat Pulev fight predictions, odds, undercard, expert picks, date - CBSSports.com
Anthony Joshua vs. Kubrat Pulev fights predictions, odds, undercard, expert picks, date
Anthony Joshua cooked to claw his way through what was a worry year in 2019 where he lost his trio of heavyweight titles via upset knockout only to be criticized for how safe he fought in winning them back, but the unified heavyweight champ has learned to let the criticism of others trail off of him.
Joshua (23-1, 21 KOs) believes he's a better populace for having experienced his two-fight series with Andy Ruiz Jr. and plans to show that on Saturday when he faces mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev (28-1, 14 KOs) in clue of a quarantined attendance of 1,000 fans inside London's Wembley Arena (DAZN, 2 p.m. ET).
"The pressure I went ended last year was tough but it made me stronger mentally with thicker skin," Joshua said during Thursday's previous press conference. "I have always been tough and wished to fight the best, that's not the issue. What have I to lose? I only have to gain."
Despite Pulev's lack of a crossover name, Joshua has plenty of generous for the danger that the native of Bulgaria brings.
The 39-year-old Pulev attacked used unified heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko with reckless endangerment during his lone pro defeat in 2014 beforehand Klitschko delivered a knockout blow. It was a fights in which Joshua, then just a handful of crusades into his pro career, served as one of Klitschko's primary sparring partners in training camp.
"I have celebrated Kubrat Pulev for many years and I concept the tactics of fighting him," Joshua said. "I current like I am a 15-round fighter and I am ready to go pending the final bell."
Joshua, 31, said there will be no quandary getting up for this mandatory fight because of the fact that he respects Pulev and the eight-fight win trail he uncorked in the aftermath of the Klitschko fight. This weekend's challenge is one that was originally scheduled to been in late 2017 until a shoulder damage saw Pulev withdraw and Carlos Takam take his attach at the last minute en route to a stoppage defeat.
"I always believed this fights would come one day," Pulev said. "We didn't fights in 2017 but I am here sparkling now and ready. I am fit and I think on Saturday night I will take the win.
"In 2017 I was younger but also I had this plight from sparring and couldn't fight because I couldn't train. Now, I am healthy. I am not 22 and I don't have time, of floods, but I am ready. Of course I righteous Anthony because he was an Olympic and earth champion. He's a good fighter but I'm ready. I have done everything to obtain champion."
Given Pulev's aggressive style, there has been some inquire as to whether Joshua's knockout loss to Ruiz in June 2019 changed him as a fighter because of how passively he presumed to box from the outside in claiming a unanimous exclusive in their rematch last December.
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Joshua received very minor credit for the win, largely because Ruiz entered the fights in such poor shape physically after enjoying his testy reign as champion and coming in grossly overweight.
"I want to cost boxing, I don't want the credit. I don't yearn for it," Joshua said. "I'm very motivated and hungry, that's why I put myself at the forefront of opportunity .The earth is my oyster but at the end of the day, I can't inquire everyone to respect me. That's for myself and why I work so hard for my family.
"I have been fighting at a top collected ever since I walked into the gym at what time a three-year amateur career. I have been punched by the strongest farmland many times and it still hasn't changed me. I have a lot of character. Every fights I train hard but it's the recount that separates me. I'm going to go into the fights and I'm definitely going to get hit but so is he and it's the last man standing."
Fight card, odds
- Anthony Joshua (c) -1000 vs. Kubrat Pulev +650, unified heavyweight titles
- Lawrence Okolie vs. Nikodem Jezewski, WBO international cruiserweight title
- Hughie Fury -650 vs. Mariusz Wach +475, heavyweights
- Martin Bakole -330 vs. Sergey Kuzmin +260, WBC international heavyweight title
Prediction
Although Pulev has scored exclusive wins by outboxing the likes of Tony Thompson, Dereck Chisora and Hughie Fury above his career, his resume is solid but far from overwhelmingly spectacular. Because of that, his performance in the Klitschko loss could be a good indicator as to what this fights looks like.
Pulev might be six existences older than the night he attempted to jump Klitschko off the opening bell and constantly look to handed pressure, but it's a similar plan of box that might be his best option given Joshua's vulnerable chin and the fact that AJ will be the taller and longer fighter with advantages in quickly and technique.
The bad news in this case for Pulev is that the more he presses Joshua in hopes of a knockout, the more he establishes a scenario in which a similar knockout defeat feels inevitable. A big reason for that is how Joshua has proven to be an economical and dangerous finisher with both aesthetic when he has has his opponent hurt.
Should Joshua abhor to be gun shy or cautious, Pulev is big and grand enough to be a problem and, make no erroneous, is fully equipped to pull off an upset. But that continues a big if.
Yes, Joshua played it safe in the Ruiz rematch but a lot of that had to do with his opponent's deceptively lustrous hands and underrated technique. AJ is naively better than Pulev in just about every category and as long as he argues confidently enough to get his opponent out of there once Pulev steps on the gas pedal, the reality is he liable will.
Pick: Joshua via KO5
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