Pulev vs. Joshua Oct. 28th

[Kalan]

Yes he did. He also dismantled Mac Foster who was regarded as a very dangerous newcomer, and many considered Jerry was going to regret taking the fight. He sure showed them.

People knew Quarry was going to beat Mac Foster.. Foster was terribly inept. He had no jab, footwork, or anything -- a raw swinger.. Quarry's win over Lyle was a much better one.. Ellis won the Heavyweight Elimination Tournament of the 1960's and became Heavyweight Champion, something that Quarry never achieved.. He easily beat George Chuvalo who knocked Quarry out.. The Jimmy Ellis who lost to Lyle and Shavers was a washed up remnant.. Historically, off his achievements, Ellis ranks over Quarry.

[candyslim]

Pulev lol, the guy's most accurate shot is a right hand to the back of the head. It is devoutly wished, and likely to happen, that we see Pulev flat on his back in the Jesus position again.

Well he might get nailed by a cross

Yes he did. He also dismantled Mac Foster who was regarded as a very dangerous newcomer, and many considered Jerry was going to regret taking the fight. He sure showed them.

People knew Quarry was going to beat Mac Foster.. Foster was terribly inept. He had no jab, footwork, or anything -- a raw swinger.. Quarry's win over Lyle was a much better one.. Ellis won the Heavyweight Elimination Tournament of the 1960's and became Heavyweight Champion, something that Quarry never achieved.. He easily beat George Chuvalo who knocked Quarry out.. The Jimmy Ellis who lost to Lyle and Shavers was a washed up remnant.. Historically, off his achievements, Ellis ranks over Quarry.

Some people, Quarry among them no doubt, but from my vantage point on this side of the ocean there seemed to be a number of people thinking Foster would be too big and powerful for Quarry and would steamroller him.

I rated Jimmy Ellis very highly but Quarry was a bit of a hero of mine. I'm probably the wrong person to ask for an objective opinion about him. How old are you Kalan if you don't mind my asking?

[Ossyrules]

I don't always agree with him Oz but he's pretty knowledgeable and often has a unique perspective which is no bad thing on any forum. Anyone who can make a case that Muhammad Ali really wasn't as good as he was cracked up to be, without me writing him off as a ferkin idiot deserves a measure of respect I reckon.

I generally find his contribution worthwhile, even if I don't share his opinion..

Each to there own candy. He strikes me as someone who knows the square route to the pickle jar, but can’t open the pickle jar. He knows various names and stats and can talk about there career, but it’s normally quite horrendously misjudged.

Up to you what you’re buying though

[candyslim]

I'm a sucker for an original thinker

[jamamb]

reported that pulev injured and out of the date. not sure if accurate.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

reported that pulev injured and out of the date. not sure if accurate.

If it is true, I look forward to hearing how Deontay pulled it off.

[jamamb]

reported that pulev injured and out of the date. not sure if accurate.

If it is true, I look forward to hearing how Deontay pulled it off.

this wouldnt be a boxing forum if there werent another wilder witchhunt. i want to say lynching but that creates an unintended racial tone!

[Ossyrules]

reported that pulev injured and out of the date. not sure if accurate.

If it is true, I look forward to hearing how Deontay pulled it off.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

reported that pulev injured and out of the date. not sure if accurate.

If it is true, I look forward to hearing how Deontay pulled it off.

this wouldnt be a boxing forum if there werent another wilder witchhunt. i want to say lynching but that creates an unintended racial tone!

If he had half the stroke the nitwits around here claim he has he would get Joshua stripped for not making his mandatory and have the vacant belt added to the Stiverne clash, only to have Stiverne busted late for drugs and getting Roy Jones to substitute for both title fights.

[Heretic]

Nah Jones would be way to big risk for wilder. Maybe the 60 years old adamek would be available

Anyways I hope the rumors are not true and we get to see pulev in the ring.

[candyslim]

Why so little interest in a heavyweight championship fight? I'm predicting a big upset. Don't forget, you heard it here first!

I won't forget and I will be among those to congratulate you in the unlikely event you are proved to be correct.

Thank you. I am getting ready for all my congratulations and press photos and interviews already.

PS You posted a good analysis above.

Sadly, we will now have to wait much longer to see if you were right or not. In any event I respect the boldness of your prediction

At least we are getting a decent substitute for such short notice.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Nah Jones would be way to big risk for wilder. Maybe the 60 years old adamek would be available

Anyways I hope the rumors are not true and we get to see pulev in the ring.

Way past rumors.

[Ilya Muromets]

I won't forget and I will be among those to congratulate you in the unlikely event you are proved to be correct.

Thank you. I am getting ready for all my congratulations and press photos and interviews already.

PS You posted a good analysis above.

Sadly, we will now have to wait much longer to see if you were right or not. In any event I respect the boldness of your prediction

At least we are getting a decent substitute for such short notice.

Hopefully Pulev will get another shot. Shame he got hurt but that's sports. He was going to win too. Takam vs Joshua is just a junk fight. Oh well, the flower shop was out of posies and I needed a flower for my lapel for the post fight interviews when all the tv reporters would be gathering around me and asking me how I knew that Pulev would win. All I was able to find was one of those trick squirting flowers so it's just as well. Next time Pulev and me will be better prepared.

[cultus]

Pulev was a good opponent. Only problem was Pulev is not a big puncher and nobody outboxes Joshua, not in this division.
Bombsquad would be interesting cause he punches hard or so it seems given the fact that he hasn't fought anyone good.
But that..mmm Takam...

[candyslim]

Can't agree about the junk fight. On paper, Takam is almost as good an opponent as is Pulev. Many believe Takam is actually the riskier fight for Joshua. I can see where they are coming from: I'd say Takam carries more power although neither are likely to stun Joshua the way Klitschko did.

Being the taller man by far might mean Joshua being forced to engage in a toe to toe with a guy whose head will be a danger (not saying deliberately just as a result of the physical differences) and where the taller man is giving up his physical advantages, or alternatively being forced to box off the back foot and I'm not sure how comfortable Joshua will be doing that. It's not a style we associate with him.

I imagine that Pulev will get another shot provided they both keep winning. Injuries happen and as much as I felt that Pulev has shown no obvious desire to fight Joshua in the past, there is no way he would want to miss out on the payday that was coming to him.

[Ilya Muromets]

OK, Candy, I respect your fight analysis. I hope it turns out to be a good one.



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Kubrat Pulev, 17 October 2017:


Hello, friends!

I am aware that the news of my injury and the subsequent cancellation of the game between me and Anthony Joshua for the world title surprised you.

It wasn't easy for me to make that decision! I know, in my place, almost everyone would choose to get into the ring in Cardiff, despite everything and collect a few million.

Anyone else, but not me!

In my life and in my world, it's not all money. I've learned that a man goes into battle to win it. I understand that despite the vicissitudes of life, a man should not cheat on his beliefs.

Anthony Joshua has to defend world titles against a strong rival and I'm glad he already has one.

I'm still more thirsty for this battle, and I think it's only a matter of time. It is such challenges that make my heart beat hard and feel that I am truly alive. In a week's time, we tried everything to ozdravim the injury, but every thing needs its own.

I take it as a sign. If God decided, then that's how it was meant to be. Still, I will be myself and I will not betray my principles. A few million won't make me richer or happier.

My wealth is the undying love of the Bulgarian people, from whom I always buy strength and inspiration and that gives me the meaning of everything I do!

Thank you from the heart of all Bulgarians for faith and support! They mean a lot to me!

We're moving on!

[candyslim]

OK, Candy, I respect your fight analysis. I hope it turns out to be a good one.



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Kubrat Pulev, 17 October 2017:


Hello, friends!

I am aware that the news of my injury and the subsequent cancellation of the game between me and Anthony Joshua for the world title surprised you.

It wasn't easy for me to make that decision! I know, in my place, almost everyone would choose to get into the ring in Cardiff, despite everything and collect a few million.

Anyone else, but not me!

In my life and in my world, it's not all money. I've learned that a man goes into battle to win it. I understand that despite the vicissitudes of life, a man should not cheat on his beliefs.

Anthony Joshua has to defend world titles against a strong rival and I'm glad he already has one.

I'm still more thirsty for this battle, and I think it's only a matter of time. It is such challenges that make my heart beat hard and feel that I am truly alive. In a week's time, we tried everything to ozdravim the injury, but every thing needs its own.

I take it as a sign. If God decided, then that's how it was meant to be. Still, I will be myself and I will not betray my principles. A few million won't make me richer or happier.

My wealth is the undying love of the Bulgarian people, from whom I always buy strength and inspiration and that gives me the meaning of everything I do!

Thank you from the heart of all Bulgarians for faith and support! They mean a lot to me!

We're moving on!

Yeah me too. I don't think we could have expected a better substitute (or even one as good as Takam) Eddie Hearn did very well there even though it probably wasn't a hard sell. Takam is a much sweeter pill to swallow than say, Razvan Cojanu for example.

It's curious what Pulev said: On the face of it you have to respect a man who would potentially walk away from $5m rather than sell himself short by fighting at less than full fitness, afterall there's no guarantee he will ever get that chance again.

On the other hand Pulev has rejected the chance to fight Joshua before, despite it was always going to be one of Pulev's biggest paydays even in 2016 or 2015,, if not the biggest. Don't misunderstand me, I'm not questioning the man's courage nor the bona-fides of the injury, but it strikes me that Pulev foresees that he would be on the wrong end of a hiding from Joshua, much like he got from Wlad. He's not scared or concerned about taking a beating, but I think that his pride and reputation as a Bulgarian sporting hero may well mean more to him than $5m in the bank. If that were the case, and it is only a feeling I get from reading between the lines, well, that in it's way is just as brave and honourable Isn't it?

If it were anybody else I'b be thinking I was a fool to think any fighter would ever walk away from $5m but as Pulev says himself, "Anyone else but not me".

[Ilya Muromets]

"On the other hand Pulev has rejected the chance to fight Joshua before"


When?

[candyslim]

December last year for definite and I believe Hearn tried to get him once before but I couldn't say when that was or who AJ fought instead. It might just have been the once. Anyone able to fill in the blanks?

[Badhusker]

Pulev has rejected the chance to fight Joshua at least two or three times.

Team "Hearn" had Takam's team apparently paid (Made a deal at least), told to train and on stand-by, as soon as the Pulev fight was announced, which is incredibly odd, but whatever.


For the Joshua nut huggers, they praise Hearn for being a top notch promoter for lining up a replacement so soon. What a guy!

[Kalan]

To think any fighter would ever walk away from $5m but as Pulev says himself, "Anyone else but not me".

If the first bell rings and the "fight" starts you have the money in your pocket.. But a man's life is worth more than 5 million.. If you get killed you're nowhere so with desperate reluctance you have to give up the 5 million.. If you put up any kind of an effort to fight you'll likely get crushed and badly.

1 of 3 fights where the loser came in injured to collect their massive check.. There were rumors Oliander Solis suffered and injury training for Vitali Klitschko.. He said he was fine.. But early in the 1st round his knee goes out from under him and the fight is over.

2. There were rumors that David Haye was injured for the Wladimir fight.. It was a broken little toe. Not something totally debilitating.. It was 15 million dollars. That is hard to turn your back on.. However, deciding to go through with the fight he should have kept his shoe on -- instead of showing the world his toe.

3. Pacquiao tore his rotator cuff very badly in training.. He could make up to 200 million -- so there was no question of him going through with it. WTF wouldn't you do for 200 million dollars??? ... There isn't a whole lot you wouldn't try to do if you were guaranteed up to that sum.

[candyslim]

Like you say he's going to get paid once the first bell has rung, and if he were a financially motivated fighter he could seek out a comfortable spot on the canvas to tretch out on, as many have done before.

Sure his life is worth more than $5m but a lot of fighters make a living from fighting people vastly superior to them, without having Pulev's skill-set to keep injury at a distance, and for peanuts.

I'm not saying he should have gone through with the fight. I respect him way more for rejecting the path of great wealth/ minimal resistance I referred to in my opening line.

[Ilya Muromets]

Like you say he's going to get paid once the first bell has rung, and if he were a financially motivated fighter he could seek out a comfortable spot on the canvas to stretch out on, as many have done before.

Sure his life is worth more than $5m but a lot of fighters make a living from fighting people vastly superior to them, without having Pulev's skill-set to keep injury at a distance, and for peanuts.

I'm not saying he should have gone through with the fight. I respect him way more for rejecting the path of great wealth/ minimal resistance I referred to in my opening line.

"as many have done before"

You can say that again!...and I still have hopes that Pulev can get another big opportunity. He got hurt. Boxing is a rough sport. Tell me about injuries! Before that he said he didn't have enough time to train and the crooks at Sauerland were negotiating behind his back. Believable, tho he shouldn't have needed that much time to prepare for a fight as he was saying back then. I was even kind of impressed by the way he lost to Wlad three years ago. Wlad was super sharp that night and beat up on him all right, but he never gave up.

[candyslim]

The way the division is losing its top stars: Klitschko, Fury, probably Ortiz, effectively Haye, and Povetkin showing signs of decline (that might have been a bad day but at 38 his days are surely numbered) it looks like Pulev might be up for another shot soon if he wants it.

There are plenty of candidates for the vacancies but first the buggers need to show some ambition and start fighting each other.

I've always loved the heavyweight division but I can certainly understand why some boxing fans have lost patience and lost interest.

ps x2x thank you for fixing my typo

[KiwiRider]

How do we, as boxing fans, get across that we don't care about unbeaten records?
I'm sick of soft matchups.
If your unbeaten, then your either the baddest in your weight class, or you have not challenged yourself. There is only one baddest, the rest fall into the latter category