UK Boxing Weekend Roundup: Joshua KOs Pulev in Ninth, Sets up Tyson Fury Unification Bout
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
*Photo Credit: Dave Thompson, Matchroom Boxing
London, UK (September 13th, 2020)– Anthony Joshua is refocused, by his own words, and is willing to fight anyone. His ninth-round knockout of aging number one contender 39-year-old Kubrat Pulev on Saturday evening, December 12, 2020, at Wembley Arena, Wembley, United Kingdom, in the main event, may not be his greatest performance, but it served to overcome his ring rust.
Joshua, 24-1, 22 knockouts, Watford, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom, dropped Pulev for the first time with power punches, and then a second time with a hook, both times in the third round. Pulev appeared to be done. It was mostly a tactical jab war, with Joshua meticulously outworking Pulev and eventually breaking him down. Pulev actually jabbed well in rounds five, six, seven, and especially in round eight.
However, a Joshua hook in round nine dropped Pulev, and a right hand knocked out Pulev, 28-2 with 14 knockouts, Sofia, Bulgaria, for the full ten count. Joshua perhaps could have ended this fight earlier, but boxed carefully in magnificent condition, and got some needed work in, setting the stage for the epic titular unification bout with Tyson Fury in 2021.
The Pulev bout was originally scheduled for 2017, when Pulev pulled out due to injury and was replaced by Carlos Takam. At 36 years of age, Pulev probably would have had a better showing in 2017 than he had in 2020. In any case, Joshua was inactive for one year. Pulev certainly did better this time around than he did when he got knocked out by Wladimir Klitschko in five rounds in November 2014 at O2 Arena. Pulev will probably take a few more lower-level fights he can win, but the reality is he will turn 40 years old in April 2021. Pulev is not a candidate to fight Tyson Fury or Deontay Wilder, Andy Ruiz Jr., Michael Hunter, Dillian Whyte, Alexander Povetkin, or any of the other top heavyweights. Pulev’s career is probably over at this point. Pulev punched Joshua in the face after the third round bell and should have lost a point.
Result: Anthony Joshua KO 9 Kubrat Pulev, Heavyweights (2:58) Referee: Dean Dwarte
Joshua retains World Boxing Association Super World Heavyweight title
Joshua retains World Boxing Organization World Heavyweight title
Joshua Retains International Boxing Federation World Heavyweight title
Joshua retains International Boxing Association World Heavyweight title
Wembley Arena Undercard Results
Lawrence Okolie TKO 2 Nikodem Jezewski
Okolie wins vacant WBO International Cruiserweight title
15-0 contender Okolie knocked down late sub Jezewski twice in first, again in second
Hughie Fury Win 10 Mariusz Wach, Heavyweights
25-3 Fury was cut above left eye in fourth round. Polish vet Wach, age 40, loser 5 of last 8.
Martin Bakole Win 10 Sergey Kuzmin, Heavyweights
Bakole wins vacant World Boxing Council International Heavyweight title
16-1 Congolian contender Bakole deals Russian Kuzmin second consecutive decision loss.
Kieron Conway Win 10 Macauley McGowan, Middleweights
Northampton 16-1-1 prospect Conway wins every round, had McGowan down in eighth.
Qais Ashfaq TKO 4 Ashley Lane, Super Bantamweights (0:20)
9-1 Leeds Yorkshire prospect Ashfaq had Lane down in first and third. Not a close bout.
Florian Marku Draw 8 Jamie Stewart, Welterweights
7-0 Albanian Marku and 2-0 Staffordshire Brit Stewart went at it. Stewart was down in the second round from left hook to the body. Scoring: referee Marcus McDonnell 76-76 draw.
Friday, December 11, 2020 Other Major British Bouts in the United Kingdom
Fly By Night Rehearsal Studios, Reddich, Worcestershire, United Kingdom
Sam Eggington TKO 6 Ashley Theophane, Super Welterweights (2:58)
Sam now 29-7. Theophane down in second, again in sixth from a right hand body shot.
Kaisee Benjamin Win 10 Ben Fields, Welterweights
BBBofC Midlands Area Welterweight title
Sheffield Arena Car Park, Sheffield, Midlands, United Kingdom
Rosendo Hugo Guarneros Referee’s Technical Decision 8 Tommy Frank, Flyweights
Guarneros wins vacant IBF Inter-Continental Flyweight title
18-4-2 Mexican Guarneros with an upset as 13-0 Frank retires with injured left shoulder.
Kane Salvin Win 10 Sufyaan Ahmed, Super Featherweights
6-0 Salvin wins vacant BBBofC Central Area Super Featherweight title
Gabriella Mezei Win 4 Cathy McAleer, Female Featherweights
11-24-5 Romanian Mezei upsets Northern Ireland’s 4-0 McAleer, age 42, who was cut on the forehead. Scoring: Referee Jamie Fitzpatrick 39-37 for Mezei.
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