IBF #1 heavyweight contender Kubrat Pulev is ready to make a splash in his U.S. debut. Pulev (26-1, 13 KOs) will take on Bogdan Dinu (18-1, 14 KOs) on ESPN in the 10-round main event Saturday evening at The Hangar in Costa Mesa, California. Two days before they enter the ring, this is what Pulev and Dinu had to say.
Kubrat Pulev: I need to concentrate at all times in the ring, be focused and then knock him out. I want the knockout real bad. That is all I think about. Me getting my hand raised, looking down at him.
“After this, we want Oscar Rivas. We fought at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. Rivas won that fight in a decision, and it still torments me. I want that fight bad and am asking Top Rank to do it. I saw what Rivas did to Jennings, but Rivas will pay the price for doing what he did to me at the Olympics.
“First, we must deal with — and get rid of — Dinu on Saturday night and move on.”
Bogdan Dinu: “A win means everything. Pulev is the mandatory challenger in the IBF, and with a win over him, I will be very close to getting my chance to fight for the heavyweight title.
“That defeat against (Jarrell) Miller was more meaningful than any of my wins. I feel that I jumped in at a very high level and the experience was good for me. If I could box for 12 rounds the way I boxed the first three rounds against Miller, I can beat anyone. I am prepared to do that now.”
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Maxim Dadashev vs. Ricky Sismundo, 10 rounds, super lightweight
Erick De Leon vs. Jose Luis Gallegos, 10/8 rounds, lightweight
Javier Molina vs. Abdiel Ramirez, 10/8 rounds, super lightweight
Chris van Heerden. vs. Mahonry Montes, 10/8 rounds, welterweight
Tyler McCreary vs. Roberto Castaneda, 8/6 rounds, featherweight
Bobirzhan Mominov vs. Jonathan Steele, 8/6 rounds, welterweight
David Kaminsky vs. Estevan Payan, 4 rounds, middleweight
Eric Puente vs. Alejandro Lopez, 4 rounds, lightweight.
Tervel Pulev vs. Mitch Williams, 8 rounds, cruiserweight