Anthony Joshua has admitted that Saturday’s boxing bout with Kubrat Pulev to defend his heavyweight championship belts at the SSE Arena in London, would be tough.
The 31-year-old British-Nigerian boxer has a 23-1 record and 21 knockouts, whereas his Bulgaria challenger has a 28-1 record with 14 of them coming via knockouts.
Joshua, who described Pulev as a skillful fighter who has been been around great boxers said he was prepared and still has one more belt to take hold of during an interview with DAZN
“I’m one belt away, it’s been hard work holding on to these four.
“That’s why I’ve got to take Pulev seriously because it’s weird how boxing works. I’ve got to go and fight for each of these belts one by one, and then Pulev gets to come and fight me for all of them in one night,” Joshua said.
Joshua continued, “He’s the IBF mandatory challenger but I’ve got to put out my WBO, IBO and WBA.
“It’s tough. I would love to do it, but I’ve got one more belt to collect and whoever has it I’m keen to fight that person. I was keen to fight the former champion last year and I’m still keen to fight the current champion this year or the year after.
“He (Pulev) does a lot of the basics well, skilful fighter, great lead hand. Follows up with a backhand to the head or body, throws it straight, throws it wide.
“He’s been in there with great fighters – Hughie Fury, Chisora, Klitschko, Bogdan. He’s been in there with Rydell Brooker and the list goes on, he’s been in there with some great people.”
Initial bout between the duo on 11th September, 2017 was cancelled after reports emerged that Pulev suffered an injury.
Thus, 36-year-old Carlos Takam (35–3–1, 27 KOs), who was ranked number 3 by the IBF stepped in to replace the Bulgarian on 12 days notice.
