[ad_1]
Anthony Joshua defends his IBF, WBO and WBA heavyweight titles against Kubrat Pulev at the SSE Arena in London on December 12, 2020 (Group via REUTERS / Andrew Couldridge)
LONDON – World heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua produced a devastating finish to knock out Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev near the end of the ninth round to retain his IBF, WBO and WBA belts at Wembley Arena on Saturday.
The 31-year-old Briton looked close to winning when he dropped Pulev in the third round, but the challenger rallied to test the hometown favorite in front of a limited crowd of 1,000.
But there was no escape for the challenger in the ninth round when Joshua landed a top right punch that sent Pulev to the canvas. The 39-year-old got up, but Joshua landed with another straight forehand to end the contest.
The champion’s 24th win in 25 professional fights opens up the possibility of an appetizing unification clash next year with fellow Brit Tyson Fury, who holds the WBC belt.
“I stuck to what I know best, looking at where I’m going to put my shots,” Joshua said in the ring. “When they are successful, they are successful. It’s less talking and more action. “
When asked about fighting Fury, Joshua posed the question to the audience, “Who wants to see Anthony Joshua fight Tyson Fury in 2021,” he said, to which the crowd roared in approval.
Fury, 32, whose brother Hughie was fighting on the card, was quick to respond on Twitter.
“I want the fight, I want the fight next, I’ll knock him out in three rounds,” he said.
Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn was eager to reunite the pair, saying: “Starting tomorrow, we will do the Tyson Fury fight right away. It is the only fight that can be done in boxing. It’s the biggest fight in British boxing history. “
FASCINATING FIGHT
The Joshua-Pulev fight, which was originally scheduled for the Tottenham Hotspur football stadium in June but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, was riveting, if not classic.
Pulev’s only loss in his previous 29 contests was in 2014 against Wladimir Klitschko and the brave Bulgarian proved to be a worthy challenger for Joshua’s belts.
After a cautious opening round, Joshua unleashed a powerful combination in the second, which was greeted with a smile by Pulev. However, the Bulgarian did not smile in the third round as he walked into an upper right cut.
Joshua looked like a stroke away from finishing it, but Pulev somehow survived an attack to get to the bell.
Pulev regained his balance in the fourth, however, and Joshua seemed a bit hesitant, despite his superior firepower.
Joshua was caught by a pair of right hands in the fifth, but by the time the ninth started, he had won every round.
Still, it would take something special to stop Pulev and that moment came near the end of the ninth when Joshua produced a devastating finish in a fight that was a potentially tricky roadblock to a Battle of Britain showdown with Fury.
gsg
Read next
Subscribe to INQUIRER PLUS to get access to The Philippine Daily Inquirer and more than 70 other titles, share up to 5 gadgets, listen to the news, download from 4am and share articles on social media. Call 896 6000.
For comments, complaints or inquiries, please contact us.
[ad_2]
