Quotes from today’s Anthony Joshua vs. Kubrat Pulev press conference ahead of Saturday’s action The SSE Arena, Wembley, shown live on Sky Sports Box Office in the UK and Ireland and on DAZN in the U.S.
Anthony Joshua: “The pressure that I went through last year was tough, but it made me mentally stronger. I grew a thicker skin. I’ve always been tough and wanted to fight the best, that’s never been an issue.
“What have I got to lose? I’ve got everything to gain. I want to be successful in boxing and the only way to be successful is take on big challenges. This is just another one I’m looking forward to competing with.
“I want to promote boxing; I don’t yearn for that credit. I’m very motivated, I’m hungry, that’s why I put myself forward for any opportunity. I’ve got a family to feed, friends I want to do business with, the worlds my oyster. At the end of the day, I can’t expect anyone to love me if I don’t love myself, so I respect myself, and that’s why I put in work every single day.
“I’ve been fighting at a top level ever since I walked into the gym. I had a three-year amateur career, going from walking into the gym to competing at the European Championships, World Championships and the Olympics.
“I’ve been punched by the strongest people many times but I’m still here today. That never changed me, just because I took a loss from Ruiz I don’t think that’s enough to change someone. Every fighter trains hard, but it’s character that separates us, and I’ve got a lot of character.
“I’m going to go into the fight, I’m definitely going to get hit and he’s going to get hit, it’s going to be last man standing.
“It’ll be good for the fans, but my focus will be just on Pulev. No disrespect to the fans coming in but I’ve got a serious job I need to complete. God willing I’m confident I’ll enjoy the victory after.
“I’ve known Kubrat Pulev for many years. I was in the training camp when his brother was sparring Warren Baister. I was in Klitschko’s camp when he prepared for Pulev. I understand some of tactics that need to go in to beating him.
“I’m prepared for the fight to go to the final bell, I feel like I’m a 15 round fighter not a 12-round fighter. If it needs to go 12 rounds, I’ll be more than capable to carry my stamina, my boxing IQ, concentration and strength until the final bell.”
Kubrat Pulev: “I’m ready to fight, we waited a long time for this fight. In 2017 I had a problem and that’s why I said to my trainer we must go for the win, not to fight now but fight a couple of years later. I knew the fight would come one day.
“I’m here now, ready to fight and win – I believe Saturday night I will take the win.
“In 2017 I was younger, but I also had a problem with the sparring, and I couldn’t fight. Now I’m healthy, I’m ready and happy the fight – with the pandemic around the world it’s not easy. I’m ready to get the win.
“I think I have everything, I’m ready. Respect to Anthony, Olympic and World Champion, and a good fighter. I’m ready and I have everything to be Champion.”
I pick my man by KO, of course. Joshua is gun shy now. Pulev didn’t wake up in his fight with Dinu until he got cut and then he turned into a seek and destroy killer; Ruiz tuned into a seek and destroy killer after he got knocked down. My prediction: Pulev by KO in rd 4. Go Bulgaria!!!
Don’t see him winning as he is past his prime going against very good younger man. Most likely he gets stopped.
Joshua looked bad in his last two fights, the first Ruiz fight of course, and in the second one all he did was run away from a morbidly obese Ruiz. Semi-retired Wlad had him KO’d just like Ruiz, but instead of going in for the kill he just stood there looking at him like a fool. He failed to seize the moment. You don’t get a second chance.
What do you mean had him KO’d?
I believe he’s referring to the trouble Joshua was in after being dropped by a big right hand from Dr. Steelhammer.
fought the best ?????????? please
My prediction?…. Joshua will move, use the jab, and rack up points to gain confidence. Pulev will be game and have some moments, but Joshua will take it by UD. Yes, my guess…
AJ will run and evade engagement, and let his bought judges do ‘his’ thing. Garbage fight. Fought the best?? Funniest shit ever. He fought an old wlad that didnt even hardly throw right hands anymore, a scared to death parker, got ko’ed by taco bells #1 customer then RAN/EVADED 100% from an even fatter opponent in the rematch, BUT wouldnt fight wilder, ortiz or fury if his LIFE depended on it. Dude is a joke. REAL CHAMPIONS TAKE RISKS!!!
I’d like to see Pulev further expose and KO Joshua, but at 39, I doubt this will happen. Joshua is a historically-mediocre, pathetic fighter. He’s a lousy boxer, mechanical, slow. He’s big and weight-lifting strong, but nothing even close to George Foreman’s power. He’s a modern day Primo Canera. If Pulev were able to put pressure on him, allow him to tire himself out (his endurance is lousy), he can’t beat him, but I don’t know if he has the skills, the training, the endurance to do so.
Pulev was KOed by a very mechnical Wladimir Klitschko and barely squeaked by a split decision win over the pathetic and very mediocre Chisora when he was younger. I don’t see him prevailing against this slug Joshua. He hasn’t fought in over a year, and does not have an impressive record since losing to Klitschko six years ago. No wonder Joshua picked him as an opponent. It’s a safe fight for him.
Wow , some real negativity towards AJ here.
There are different ways to read things.
Firstly Wlad wasn’t semi retired. He was out of action for a while when he was messed around by Fury before he went off on one. He wasn’t hurt or anything by Fury – just outfoxed and baffled. Sure you can say that Wlad should have finished him but if AJ wasn’t tagged when he was going in for the kill that result may have been different.
Yes , the Ruiz win wasn’t spectacular but he trained/conditioned himself for a safety first win and they always said in that fight that the W was all important. Not his fault that Ruiz was so out of shape. And it would surely be suicide to change your plan at the last moment having prepared in a certain way.
I have the feeling that Fury doesn’t particularly want the AJ fight but Fury seems to change his intentions all the time.
I can honestly say that Wlad looked cut and in-shape [for an aging fighter] when he fought AJ. Wlad always came ready to fight and took his job of boxing serious. Props to him.
Agreed. Wlad wasn’t your average 40+ year old fighter against Joshua. He was still an elite level fighter, although you could see that he had slid a bit following the Pulev fight. He struggled to keep pace against Jennings and the wide decision was a far cry from the knockout everyone expected. Then came the Fury fight where he looked like he definitely lost a step. But he was still a class fighter and would’ve beaten almost anyone else that night he fought Joshua.
It’ll be interesting to see if Joshua follows the Klitschko playbook of just coming right at Pulev or if he tries to elongate the fight. Pulev isn’t quite fast enough to win a firefight, and I think a slow paced fight gives him the best opportunity to actually score the upset. I don’t know if Joshua has the heart to just go out trading shots, so Pulev might be in with a chance here. Or Joshua might be so much better technically that he racks up rounds. I think this is a closer fight than most suggest, but you’d still expect Joshua to win one way or another.
Joshua is in a mission:Try to redeem himself for his last two bad performances, reasons why he has been heavily criticized. His debut in USA was more than a disaster, then in the rematch he played safe first where he looked more scared than determinated to regain his credits.
Against Pulev I expect him on his toes holding his ground, sharpshooting him, but not running. I expect Pulev being submitted with a swollen face as a result of hevy jabs and hevy punches.
By the 10th the fight should be over in Joshua’s favor IMO.
Pulev has no chance at all…Yes, a lucky punch, but that does not happen often…I predict a huuuuuge KO for AJ!!!