[ad_1]
Unified heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua mixed power and patience when he knocked out Kubrat Pulev to bolster hopes that a historic fight against Tyson Fury will soon be a reality.
The British heavyweight slammed his mandatory challenger to the mat twice in the third round in a chaotic flurry that saw Pulev grinning while under attack and turning his back when under fire, only to somehow ring the bell.
Joshua, perhaps weary from the chaos, dropped the gas and allowed Pulev to at least offer a slight threat, but a barrage of uppercuts in the ninth dropped Pulev and a straight forehand wiped him out seconds later.
The 1,000 fans who were granted access to Wembley Arena saw a combination of boxing skills and smashing punches that have helped make Joshua the attraction that he is.
Moments after fans roared at the prospect of IBF, WBA and WBO champion taking on WBC champion Fury, Joshua said, “I started this game in 2013, gathered the belts.
“Whoever has the belts I want to compete with. If that’s Tyson Fury, let it be Tyson Fury.”
Patience, power and uppercuts
Joshua, donning a gleaming white sleeveless hoodie for his walk around the ring, was smart from start to finish on a night in which the widespread anticipation of a fight with Fury, in which all four heavyweight world titles could be contested for the first time, it dominated the narrative. .
In his last two outings, Joshua has withstood immense pressure. A second loss to Andy Ruiz Jr in December would have left his career in tatters. It was perfect in the evening.
A loss here would have made him the instant scapegoat amid the public demand for the Fury fight. Once again he was emphatic.
He found his range early on with quick punches as the 39-year-old Pulev boxed cautiously and struggled to throw something fast or crisp.
When he jabbed in the third, a counter right landed on his jaw and stunned him, allowing Joshua to follow up with an uppercut and take him down.
Pulev had briefly tried to smile and roar at adversity, but within seconds his back was turned and an uppercut turned his legs to jelly as he crashed down again.
The pair hit each other after the bell, they looked at each other before the fifth, and while Pulev gained some traction in the middle rounds, he was never able to land anything that allowed him to dictate the pace.
Some will ask why Joshua couldn’t finish things faster, but after a year out of the ring, he controlled this fight.
The blows to the head and body drew roars of approval from coach Rob McCracken and four uppercuts early in the ninth saw the now fatigued Pulev take cover.
Joshua couldn’t miss with the right uppercut all night and another flurry dropped the game to Pulev, before a direct jolt to the chin left him unable to answer the count.
It is a testimony of Joshua who continues to face such mental challenges.
Fury will move better than Pulev, hit with a lot more variety, believe more in himself, and set a lot more traps in the ring.
It will also inevitably bring a whole new level of mental warfare to any preparation should the fight happen.
Hope has never been great enough to do so.
More to follow.
