Home

Boxing

Kubrat Pulev: Anthony Joshua Is Nothing Special. Usyk Will Knock Him Out

Published 12/06/2021, 5:15 AM EST

Follow Us

via Reuters

Despite suffering a lopsided KO against Anthony Joshua in 2020, his former foe Kubrat Pulev hasn’t credited the Brit star to have any special features. While AJ lost his heavyweight straps to Oleksandr Usyk in September, Pulev has shed light on what we can expect in a potential rematch.

Once a top-tier heavyweight, Pulev seems to have retired from boxing and is now the maiden Triad Combat titleholder. He is no longer racing for the boxing belts but has clearly envisioned a future for the WBO, IBF, and WBA heavyweight titles. He doesn’t see Usyk losing them anytime soon and has predicted a fatal outcome for ‘AJ’ yet again.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

In a chat with IFL TV, ‘The Cobra’ said, “So, Usyk was better prepared, Joshua was not. I tell from my fight, my opinion because I fight with him [AJ]. So, Joshua is nothing special, and I said everybody when the  fight with Usyk, Usyk will win. When now, when fight with Usyk again, Usyk knock him out.”

Well, a lot of people are now rooting for Usyk after he one-sidedly beat Joshua to grab ahold of his heavyweight belts. Prior to the fight, boxing pundits doubted Oleksandr Usyk’s chances against a world heavyweight champion. Coming from the cruiserweight division, Usyk also didn’t boast his prowess. However, he shocked everyone in the ring and retained his unbeaten record in style.

While a potential rematch is now onboard, it’s up to AJ to turn the tables. One more defeat can take away Joshua from the top-tier conversation. Here’s a broader look at it.

Eddie Hearn Responds to Floyd Mayweather’s Criticism of Canelo Alvarez

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Can we see a different Anthony Joshua against Oleksandr Usyk?

Following the second pro-defeat of his career, Anthony Joshua is under a lot of scrutiny this time around. He has reportedly asked to bring an extra trainer to prepare for the camp. Hence, it’s valid that Joshua’s original plans for Usyk didn’t fetch him any result. He shall look to add more to his combat arsenal and shall win at any cost next.

via Reuters

Meanwhile, the winner of the fight can expect a unification bout with WBC champion Tyson Fury down the road. This puts a lot on the table for AJ. He cannot crumble under pressure and shall rise once again to regain his lost dominance in the division. It is sure to bea a demanding task, but Joshua has valid features he can rely on.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Trending

Get instantly notified of the hottest Boxing stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.

Follow Us

Watch This Story: Top 5 Best Selling PPV Fights of Floyd Mayweather’s Boxing Career

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :

Written by:

Raj Sarkar

3,299Articles

One take at a time

A senior boxing writer at EssentiallySports, Raj Sarkar is a mass media graduate who is currently pursuing his master’s degree in broadcast journalism. In addition to his current role, he has worked with the MMA team at EssentiallySports and has interviewed prominent fighters such as Ritu Phogat and 'The Red King' Rory MacDonald. Combining his bachelor's degree with his adoration for combat sports, he has earned a combined 3000 plus bylines over the last two years.
Show More>