SAN FRANCISCO, December 12, (THEWILL) – British heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua (AJ) faces Bulgarian challenger Kubrat Pulev on Saturday night at Wembley’s SSE Arena. Here, the boxing world make their predictions.
“AJ has had his fall from grace when he got caught by Andy Ruiz. Joshua is facing a Pulev who is sharp, confident and focused. He has to win the jab early and then get the job done in the mid to late rounds. AJ has learned how to be adaptable and we see both styles in this fight. But when he goes for the finish, AJ will finish Pulev.”
– Spencer Oliver, former professional boxer nicknamed “The Omen”
“Joshua had his wake-up call against Andy Ruiz, and will come in sharp with his jab and power punches. We might have a few cagey rounds to start, between two men who both achieved great things as amateurs, but I see Joshua knocking a 39-year-old Pulev out before the sixth round. I believe we will see a dramatic statement from Joshua, who wants his next fight to be Tyson Fury.”
– Ricky Hatton, former professional boxer with several light-welterweight titles and one welterweight belt
“I don’t care, they are two bum dossers. I will not be watching.”
– Tyson Fury, WBC heavyweight champion
“It will be a hard-fought win for Joshua but he will stop Pulev between rounds 8 and 10. Pulev looks focused and ready, but Joshua will be clinical in this fight.”
– Johnny Nelson, former professional boxer and still the longest-reigning world Cruiserweight champion of all time, holding the WBO title from 1999 – 2005
“AJ looks great, is full of confidence and I think we will see a spectacular, brutal TKO in the seventh round.”
– Eddie Hearn – English Boxing Promoter and Group Managing Director of Matchroom Sport
“Pulev is the right opponent for AJ, who will outbox him once he gets into the fight, but he needs to establish his jab and then let his hands go. His footwork will be key to an easy victory, and it’s going to be a big ring and he must use it. I see him outboxing Pulev then stopping him around rounds 9 or 10.”
– Billy Joe Saunders, former professional boxer with championships in two weight classes, the WBO middleweight in 2015 and the WBO super-middleweight in 2019
“My guy Kubrat Pulev is going to upset the odds, beat Joshua and go on to fight Tyson Fury. There will be no Fury vs Joshua fight in 2021. Pulev will knock Joshua out.”
– Bob Arum, Boxing Promoter and CEO of Top Rank, a professional boxing promotion company based in Las Vegas
“Pulev is not to be underrated or looked past and his only loss is to Wladimir Klitschko. His record speaks for itself. But at the same time, since the Ruiz defeat, Joshua has come on in leaps and bounds. I’ve done sparring with him and I can 100 per cent tell you, he is the best Anthony Joshua I’ve ever seen. During this camp I have seen his new skillset, the new version of him. I think everyone will like it.”
– Frazer Clarke, Amateur boxer who won the super heavyweight division at the Rio 2016 test event
“Pulev is old now and he was never really great even at his best. This is just a keep-busy fight for Joshua and he wins it.”
– Dillian Whyte, British boxer, former kickboxer and mixed martial artist with multiple heavyweight titles including the WBC interim heavyweight title in 2019
“This is a good fight for AJ. Pulev stands up straight, very tall, very strong, and has only ever lost to Wladimir Klitschko. He’s got the power to cause some issues, and a rough tough guy that AJ will need to be in his best form and if he is, he wipes out Pulev.”
– David Haye, former professional boxer with multiple world championships in two weight categories, nicknamed “The Hayemaker”
Victory for Joshua will clear the path for an undisputed world heavyweight title fight against World Boxing Council (WBC) champion Tyson Fury next year where the winner will hold all the heavyweight titles.
