Pulev....

[funso banjo baby]

it was the first exciting fight that Vlad has actually won.

[Dennis]

For those who think Pulev didn't do very well, who wins between Pulev and the rest of the top 15 contenders?

[HomicideHenry]

For those who think Pulev didn't do very well, who wins between Pulev and the rest of the top 15 contenders?

If the Pulev who showed up tonight, with that fight plan... fought the rest of the top 15 or so... I'd say alot of them would be 50/50 affairs... that style was horrible. I cant see that working against Wilder, Stiverne, Fury, etc.

[dempseyfire]

How so?

Stood straight up right in front of Wlad, didn't move his head, chin hanging out in the air ready to be punched, hung out on his back foot letting Wlad dictate the pace and style in which they r fighting.....etc

That's what I said before the fight; Pulev in the same straight up, paw paw right hand style as Wlad but Wlad has every advantage . . bigger, stronger, faster, more athletic etc.

[dempseyfire]

it was the first exciting fight that Vlad has actually won.

Since Derrick Jefferson.

[Lackeos]

Pulev did a good job of neutralizing Wlad's gifts in a way that few opponents do. In doing so, Pulev's approach opened-up new weaknesses of its own. His chosen approach made for a shorter fight and less survivability, but he still fought on closer to equal terms and dished out more meaningful strikes than many other challengers. Losing by stoppage doesn't necessarily make a fighter worse than losing by dominant decision.

[HomicideHenry]

Pulev did a good job of neutralizing Wlad's gifts in a way that few opponents do. In doing so, Pulev's approach opened-up new weaknesses of its own. His chosen approach made for a shorter fight and less survivability, but he still fought on closer to equal terms and dished out more meaningful strikes than many other challengers. Losing by stoppage doesn't necessarily make a fighter worse than losing by dominant decision.

What fight did you see?

Oh, you mean when Pulev bulled his way in, and wrapped his tentacle arms around Klitschko and threw rabbit punches?

K... gotcha

If thats the way to neutralize the Klitschko... we need to get Huggy Bear Ruiz out of retirement.

[JCS]

Pulev did a good job of neutralizing Wlad's gifts in a way that few opponents do. In doing so, Pulev's approach opened-up new weaknesses of its own. His chosen approach made for a shorter fight and less survivability, but he still fought on closer to equal terms and dished out more meaningful strikes than many other challengers. Losing by stoppage doesn't necessarily make a fighter worse than losing by dominant decision.

What fight did you see?

Oh, you mean when Pulev bulled his way in, and wrapped his tentacle arms around Klitschko and threw rabbit punches?

K... gotcha

If thats the way to neutralize the Klitschko... we need to get Huggy Bear Ruiz out of retirement.

I saw that as.. not taking Klitschko's BS when it came to holding.

Pulev came to fight, not hold.. you can't take that away from him.

[lefty]

Pulev did a good job of neutralizing Wlad's gifts in a way that few opponents do. In doing so, Pulev's approach opened-up new weaknesses of its own. His chosen approach made for a shorter fight and less survivability, but he still fought on closer to equal terms and dished out more meaningful strikes than many other challengers. Losing by stoppage doesn't necessarily make a fighter worse than losing by dominant decision.

What fight did you see?

Oh, you mean when Pulev bulled his way in, and wrapped his tentacle arms around Klitschko and threw rabbit punches?

K... gotcha

If thats the way to neutralize the Klitschko... we need to get Huggy Bear Ruiz out of retirement.

I saw that as.. not taking Klitschko's BS when it came to holding.

Pulev came to fight, not hold.. you can't take that away from him.

He was also getting the better of the jab a fair bit i noticed.

[HomicideHenry]

I saw that as.. not taking Klitschko's BS when it came to holding.

Pulev came to fight, not hold.. you can't take that away from him.

What I saw was Pulev initiating most of the holding in the contest.

I had flash backs of Chuck Wepner last night, with all that clinching and rabbit punches.

And... I'll give you that last bit, he did come to fight and showed no fear... but when Pulev watches the film, and sees the mistakes made from the outside looking in... he will know he messed up big time in there.

This is boxing, not stand up mma or wrestling. You don't win matches just bulling your way in and forcing clinches.

[jamesmcdonnell]

I thought he started well then got hit very hard ,he had a go

I thought he looked inept, clumsy, and utterly clueless from the get-go. Looked like a clubfighter.

[Lackeos]

What fight did you see?

Oh, you mean when Pulev bulled his way in, and wrapped his tentacle arms around Klitschko and threw rabbit punches?

K... gotcha

If thats the way to neutralize the Klitschko... we need to get Huggy Bear Ruiz out of retirement.

I saw that as.. not taking Klitschko's BS when it came to holding.

Pulev came to fight, not hold.. you can't take that away from him.

He was also getting the better of the jab a fair bit i noticed.

Yes, Pulev's swirling left was doing triple duty of obstructing Wlad's jab, being difficult for Wlad to block with his right hand, and making Wlad flinch to avoid the jab. Also, Pulev's choice to fight very tall made the height disparity functionally almost nonexistent. With Pulev also being in great shape physically, he basically negated all of Wlad's physical assets. But as various tall opponents eventually find out, when you prevent Wlad from dominating with the jab, he turns into Puncher Wlad, and then you get hurt faster. You can ask Tony Thompson and Ray Austin what they know about that.

[danamba7]

Or I should say he looked retarded.... he was so stiff-legged, and his hands out like that... just looked incredibly foolish. I dont know how one could think that kind of stance or position would of served you well in a fight.

I thought the same to be fair. Pulev wouldn't have been close to challenging for any belt in a decent era of HW boxing. Wlad is class but he really has no competition at the moment.

[danamba7]

I thought he started well then got hit very hard ,he had a go

I thought he looked inept, clumsy, and utterly clueless from the get-go. Looked like a clubfighter.

Agree, the division is terrible apart from Wlad.

[The Great John L]

Did anyone else think of Chuck Wepner when watching Pulev fight? Clearly, Pulev throws a better RH, but his guts, complete lack of head movement and defense in general, and excellent rabbit punching in the clinches sure seemed to be channeling The Bayonne Bleeder. Of course, Wepner had a better chin.

[evrenb]

You're right. Pulev should've broke out his Chris Byrd impression and get beat up from the outside more slowly and comprehensively.

No he should of stuck to fighting like Kubrat Pulev... the same Pulev who fought Thompson and others, intelligently boxing. Instead... he showed up looking like a cross-between the Tinman and an Octopus. When he wasnt getting his head knocked off his shoulders, he was mauling/clinching like he had tentacles instead of arms.

lmao