BoxRec

The news is out, the AJ chin ain’t great - 4 fights he’s been stunned now - there is no way Rob McCracken is going to allow him to be swapping punches with anyone, at least before the other guy has been well broken down; last time he swapped punches with anyone he got cold cocked...

That said I think Pulev is probably shot, he’s been around the block too many times and looks about 50 years old... I think he hits the canvas three or four times before getting stopped before the seventh

I've never liked how Pulev holds his right elbow out when he jabs, ready to follow on condition there's nothing coming back. Because if there is a reply it leaves him potentially wide open. He often fights like he taught himself from Muay Thai films from the '80s.

If AJ's recovered most of his confidence, I think this is a comfortable win for him by stoppage.

1pm UK time

I think they'll both be cautious but Joshua finally takes the Bulgarian out late. I saw an interview with AJ (it was a short one: he is an insufferable bore and soundbite machine. Joyce and Dubois are both more genuine and likeable) and he looked a little "off" still, like the Mexican blob nightmare still haunts him. I can't see anything interesting happening until the 3rd at least, but I do see him stopping Pulev in Round 10 or 11.

What a circus at the weigh ins.

I like the real AJ, why can’t he be more like that. He lost his cool there and it came out in the interview after the weigh in. The real AJ comes over better than the matchroom scripted one

early indications must be that ppv buy rates are relatively shyte. Only reason for that pantomime. Don't see either of them being scared enough for that to be impromptu.

smiling assassin wrote: ↑11 Dec 2020, 09:58 He lost his cool there and it came out in the interview after the weigh in

THE BEEF IS RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEAL!!!!!!!!!

AJ 17.2 stone
Pulev 17.1 stone

Controversial wrote: ↑11 Dec 2020, 10:19 AJ 17.2 stone
Pulev 17.1 stone

Both could fairly easily cut to Bridgerweight. Let's call both 238lbs in the buff. 14lb cut for lads that big is a walk in the park. Just shows why that division is bollocks.

Staged nonsense, not even the faintest sniff of real hostility. Fair play to Pulev - a couple of times he looked on the verge of fits of laughter but managed to control himself.

Weigh-In Report

Anthony Joshua (23-1, 21KOs), vs. Kubrat Pulev (28-1, 14KOs), —12 rds., heavyweight
Lawrence Okolie (14-1, 11KOs), 199.8 vs. Nikodem Jezewski (19-0-1, 9KOs), 199.7—10 rds., cruiserweight
Hughie Fury (24-3, 14KOs), 247.3 vs. Mariusz Wach (36-6, 19KOs), 274.35—10 rds., heavyweight
Martin Bakole (15-1, 12KOs), 251.4 vs. Sergey Kuzmin (15-1, 11KOs; 1ND), 258.45—10 rds., heavyweight
Kieron Conway (15-1-1, 3KOs), 160 vs. Macaulay McGowan (14-1-1, 3KOs) 158.45—10 rds., middleweight
Florian Marku (7-0, 5KOs), 146.95 vs. Jamie Stewart (2-0, 0KOs) 145.9—8 rds., welterweight
Qais Ashfa (8-1, 3KOs), 124.2 vs. Ashley Lane (14-9-2, 1KO), 122.4—8 rds, jr. featherweight

CaptainSpacerod wrote: ↑11 Dec 2020, 10:31 Staged nonsense, not even the faintest sniff of real hostility. Fair play to Pulev - a couple of times he looked on the verge of fits of laughter but managed to control himself.

Exactly but if posters like smiling assassin can be taken in what hope the general public. Such simple theatrics could quite literally be worth hundreds of thousands to these fighters. Crazy when you think about just how simple and easy it is to bait punters.

I’m not saying they were close to having a tear up boys but words were said and I do think AJ was a little fired up in the interview after. Don’t lynch me
I won’t be watching

smiling assassin wrote: ↑11 Dec 2020, 09:58 I like the real AJ, why can’t he be more like that. He lost his cool there and it came out in the interview after the weigh in. The real AJ comes over better than the matchroom scripted one

I'm sure he is involved in a drinking game with his mates over what cliches he can use in interviews. The guy talks in riddles

Jimmy2020 wrote: ↑11 Dec 2020, 10:34

CaptainSpacerod wrote: ↑11 Dec 2020, 10:31 Staged nonsense, not even the faintest sniff of real hostility. Fair play to Pulev - a couple of times he looked on the verge of fits of laughter but managed to control himself.

Exactly but if posters like smiling assassin can be taken in what hope the general public. Such simple theatrics could quite literally be worth hundreds of thousands to these fighters. Crazy when you think about just how simple and easy it is to bait punters.

It's just a bit of fun and you cant blame anyone involved for wanting to boost their share of the spoils. What really grates though is Eddie's reaction. He's done so much for British boxing and I guess British boxers but he'll always be the pantomime villain while he has the barefaced cheek to come on camera and insult everyone's intelligence by blatantly lying about what's just happened

stujones wrote: ↑11 Dec 2020, 10:52

smiling assassin wrote: ↑11 Dec 2020, 09:58 I like the real AJ, why can’t he be more like that. He lost his cool there and it came out in the interview after the weigh in. The real AJ comes over better than the matchroom scripted one

I'm sure he is involved in a drinking game with his mates over what cliches he can use in interviews. The guy talks in riddles

Hope pulev puts AJ to kip

The only thing that makes me dislike Joshua are his headphones and everything they represent. Headphones are a particular pet hate of mine even when it is teenagers wearing them. A bloke in his thirties just looks like a full on twat.

Had the weigh in gone like the press conferences and all the respect handshakes etc..

The headlines would be: 'Joshua vs. Pulev: Weigh in report.' etc..

Because of the little act they put on, we're getting stuff like:

'Joshua, Pulev weigh in, then talk trash wearing face masks'

'Hearn: Pulev taunted Joshua'

'Joshua and Pulev clash at weigh in'

'Anthony Joshua and Kubrat Pulev pulled apart by security at weigh-in'

'Anthony Joshua and Kubrat Pulev have to be separated by security at weigh-in'

Now as a promoter, and I think most will agree.. I know which type of headlines I want.. ..

Some people will get suckered into it.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑10 Dec 2020, 07:50

In 2 hours

Joshua is sounding like he is on gear. Talking about himself as a 15 round fighter and his high boxing IQ.

Apparently, all Pulev said was that he was amazing..

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑11 Dec 2020, 12:51 Apparently, all Pulev said was that he was amazing..

Trash talking at it’s finest

It pissed Joshua off which is quite funny. I don’t rate Pulevs chances much but he could make it difficult and last the distance.

watching Joshua pretend not to be bothered or nonplussed by Fury's antics in the buildup (and transparently failing) would be almost as much fun as the fight itself, I reckon. AJ would look just as stiff and awkward next to him in the studio as he'll look chasing Fury's shadow round the ring

Was interesting, wish the cameras would have zoomed out cos from my view all I could see at the start was Joshua chopsing - he told Pulev to come closer.