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By rediscovering the thrill of a brutal knockout, Anthony Joshua paved the way for an opportunity to be the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.
at Wembley Arena in London on December 12, 2020 (December 13 in Manila). AP PHOTO
With a big forehand that sent Kubrat Pulev, a durable but one-dimensional Bulgarian, to the canvas for the third and final time, Joshua secured a dominant victory in the ninth round on his return home to the UK on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) for to hold back. the WBA, WBO and IBF belts.
It wasn’t long before the inevitable question was thrown at him: is WBC champion Tyson Fury next in what would be an all-British blockbuster to unify all four titles in boxing’s top division?
“Whoever has the belt, I would love to compete with them,” Joshua said. “If that’s Tyson Fury, let it be Tyson Fury.”
If that felt a bit of an evasive response, and Fury took it that way in a video message he released moments later, Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn left no room for debate.
“We know what we have to do starting tomorrow: get Tyson Fury to fight right away,” Hearn said, a big smile on his face. “It is the only fight that can be done in boxing. It’s the biggest fight in boxing. “
In principle, an agreement was already reached on a two-fight deal between the two Brits for 2021. He just needed Joshua to dispatch Pulev in the first defense of his titles since winning them back in a rematch against Andy Ruiz Jr. in Arabia Saudi one year. make.
He did so impressively, mixing patience with his renowned power to subdue and then dismantle Pulev in front of the first crowd for a British boxing match since the coronavirus outbreak. Only 1,000 spectators, a number that included boxing royalty Floyd Mayweather, were able to enter London’s Wembley Arena due to government restrictions on the number of people allowed at sporting events, and they witnessed a one-sided fight.
After evaluating Pulev with a cautious approach in the first two rounds, Joshua went on the attack in the third and caused his 39-year-old opponent to trip over a right hook that saw Pulev stagger into the corner and turn his back on him, forcing a count of eight.
Pulev grinned at Joshua, but soon slid down the ropes to the mat after a series of punches that ended with a fierce right uppercut from Joshua.
Pulev stood up and showed determination to stay in a fight he was always behind, with Joshua determined to pick the right moment and not leave himself open.
Joshua always had Pulev’s measure, using the left jab and his longer reach to great effect and hurting Pulev with repeated uppercuts that quickly became his favorite punch.
It was the right uppercut that dropped Pulev again near the end of the ninth round. The end was near for Pulev, who got up but walked straight into a massive right hand that sent him shuddering to the mat.
The fight was stopped with two seconds left in the round, Pulev was beaten for the second time in his career following a stoppage in 2014 by Wladimir Klitschko, and Joshua raised his right arm in the air to celebrate his 24th win in 25 fights. since turning pro after winning Olympic gold in 2012.
It was Joshua’s first knockout since he last fought in Britain, against Alexander Povetkin in September 2018, and it was a brutal power blow when it came.
The last heavyweight boxer to be the undisputed champion was Lennox Lewis, another who fought under the British flag, in 1999.
Joshua was not frank in calling out Fury in his post-fight remarks, preferring to thank the crowd and the British people for their support through a difficult year.
“Since I came to this game in 2013, I have been chasing all the belts,” Joshua said. “I’ve been dealing with mandates. Of course I want the challenge, it’s not about the opponent, it’s about the legacy and the belts. “
It was left to Fury to deliver the trash talk in an expletive-laden video message uploaded to Twitter, saying Joshua “went around the bush” when asked if he wanted the fight.
“I want the fight, I want the fight next,” said Fury, who wore a Christmas sweater for the occasion. “I’ll knock him out in three rounds.”
Fury’s promoter in the United States, Bob Arum, said he would begin work Monday to put together the fight.
“Looks like the stage is set,” he tweeted, “for the biggest heavyweight championship fight since Ali-Frazier in 1971.”
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