Boxe, Joshua batte Pulev by 9th round ko

At London’s Wembley Arena (where he had not fought for two years and where he became Olympic champion in 2012 against Cammarelle with a controversial verdict), Anthony Joshua defeated Bulgarian challenger Kubrat Pulev by ko in 2’58 “in the ninth round and was confirmed as champion. world championship of the best Ibf, Wba, Wbo and Ibo. The fifth crown, that of Wbc, is now in the hands of Tyson Fury, the other Briton who remains suspended between the trilogy with the American Deontay Wilder and the “Battle of Britain” against Joshua: the challenge of the challenges at the top, the showdown that everyone expects a colossal British derby in the ring. Meanwhile, the 31-year-old AJ is confirmed with his knockout number 22 of his 24 career matches (just a loss to Andy Ruiz), and after a very convincing challenge against the solid challenger he passed. An impressive sequence of shots finally destroys the Cobra. Joshua, who had not fought since e who regained the titles a year ago on points against Ruiz, is the real Joshua, perhaps removing the fear of a little rust accumulated from inactivity. AJ has swept away all doubts in every way: from a boxing lesson to the expert opponent.

Match

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There are only a thousand spectators admitted to the London Arena due to the Covid emergency; next to the ring Floyd Mayweather with his gold chains around his neck, but there is no Tyson Fury even though he has been invited to watch Cousin Hughie’s victorious match. Start taunting with the left jab, the goalie. The two boxers prefer to study each other in the center of the ring. In the second round, AJ charges the right uppercut that hits after a combination, and again uses the jab to win the second half. In the third, the Englishman’s right hand is precise and opens a devastating assault: precise, ballistic, to the point of forcing Pulev to take refuge in the corner while the referee starts the count. A right straight and another, a right uppercut to the chin and Pulev is lying down. The game is scored. An extraordinary third round of the champion that makes the difference, while the Cobra does not seem to have a guard but is tenacious in its ability to suffer, also overwhelmed by the personality of the champion. He picks up Pulev and when he reacts, Joshua manages to dodge him quickly, dodging admirably. Synchronization in defense too, not only in attack. A dynamism in the ring, kissed by a sublime physical condition. In the fourth round, AJ tries to slow down also because he is in control of the match. Joshua’s left jab is always incisive even in the fifth round, a way to open up and eliminate the challenger again – the opponent is still in a daze and cannot find countermeasures even if he collects well. Pulev tries the measure but fails to build a really effective combination: he finds an effective but isolated left hook. The Bulgarian shortens the distance but nothing can be done against the agility of the champion, with a clear advantage.

Domain

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The chorus of the match does not change in the middle. Joshua doesn’t seem at all stopped for a year without a game, he’s brilliant and destructive on the riser even in the seventh half. Cobra, 39, who is on his second world attempt and has the experience of a single loss to former Ukrainian champion Wladimir Klitshchko, is unable to reverse the inertia of the match with systematic control of his rival. Joshua does not force the knockout and ends up suffering a right hand from Pulev. Another attempt that remains isolated and unproductive, although the eighth is also the only route in his favor for scoring purposes. Four stiles in a row until the ninth do not seem to scratch the rival: indeed, until 25 ”at the end of the lap, Pulev continues to go down, resumes but definitely falls at the end with the last stile on the masterly right. And it ends there. An inevitable knockout, even late, after such a dominated match. AJ leaves the ring and goes silently to greet Mayweather. This is how the star of the reconfirmed king of the top of all acronyms was revived: “In boxing you have to speak little and do a lot, I did it,” AJ exclaims with a hot shot with manager and promoter Eddie Hearn. And now? There is already an agreement in principle for the challenge against Fury in 2021. “I am 100% sure that the fight with Fury will take place, starting tomorrow I will get to work,” says Joshua’s promoter mischievously. That simulates a nice last standing to the super smiling technician and ready to prepare the match of the matches to the maximum, to the great business of the ring. The match that everyone wants. Joshua, for his part, gave a sample of his enormous qualities. Concrete, alive, relentless. And the fury is waiting for Fury now.

RESULTS – Maximum (World Wba, Wbo, Ibf, Ibo) Anthony Joshua (Gb, 24-1-0, 109,200 kg) b. Kubrat Pulev (Bul, 28-2-0, 108,700) ko 9; referee: Dwarte (Saf); judges: Montella (Ita), Ezekiev (Bul), Edwards (Gb).

High light (vacant Wbo intern): Okolie (Gb, 15-0, 90,500) b. Jezewski (Pol, 19-1–1, 90,450) cat 2.

Maximum: H. Fury (Gb, 3-25-0,112,100) b. Wach (Pol, 36-7-0, 123,400) p. 10 (100-90, 100-90, 99-91).

Maximum (vacant Wbc International): Bakole (Con, 16-1-0, 113,780) b. Kuzmin (Rus, 15-2-0, 117,100) p. 10 (98-92, 97-93, 96-94).

Superwelter: Conway (Gb, 16-1-1, 71,900) b. McGowan (Gb, 14-2-1, 72,380) p. 10 (100-90, 100-89, 100-89).

Confusion: Marku (Alb, 7-0-1, 66,700) c. J.Stewart (Gb, 2-0-1, 66,200) par 8.

Super bantamweight: Ashfaq (Gb, 9-1-0, 56,350) b. Lane (Gb, 14-10-2, 55,500) kot 7.