
The delayed fight between unified IBF, IBO, WBA, and WBO heavyweight
champion Anthony Joshua and his IBF mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev
is set to take place on Saturday, December 12 in the UK. The venue is
still yet to be determined. The fight had been scheduled earlier this
year for July 20 at the new Tottenham hotspurs soccer stadium in the
U.K capital of London, it would have been a sell-out of 60,000 fans in
attendance. At the time, it was seen as an eagerly anticipated event
before the pandemic. It was built as a homecoming for the unified
Heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua who has not fought in his home
country since defeating Russian Alexander Povetkin in September 2018
at Wembley. Anthony Joshua had fought both his previous two fights
last year abroad. Once in America and later in Saudi Arabia. Joshua
first made his American debut against late replacement Andy Ruiz Jr,
who shocked the world, dropping Joshua four times after trading
knockdowns in round 3. Ruiz was floored for the first time in his
professional career before getting up off the canvas and putting down
the previously unbeaten Joshua twice in the same round. That round 3
was memorable, yet a very daunting round for Joshua which saw him
stumble across to his corner at the end of the third round. Ruiz went
on to defeat Joshua by TKO in round seven after the referee deemed
Joshua was unable to continue. The previously undefeated Joshua
activated his rematch clause by accepting the rematch vs Andy Ruiz Jr
later that year. They would square off again in December of last year.
After Joshua had a nightmare American debut his team were not
confident in traveling to the states again, June 1 of 2019 in New
York was a lasting memory. Although both fighters refused to concede
home turf neither team wanted to travel to the enemy’s back garden. So
they settled for a rematch in the middle east in Saudi Arabia in a
brand new stadium. Which was built just outside the capital of Riyadh
on the outskirts in Dirriah. Joshua would go on to out-box the chubby
Ruiz thoroughly over 12 rounds with little trouble outside round 8.
Joshua eased to an easy unanimous decision outboxing the slow flat
footed Ruiz, who this time was lethargic and much heavier in weight.
Brit Joshua with extra caution, kept his composure, keeping his
distance on the outside using his long-range, jab, and fleet footwork
to stay out of danger and harm. It was far from a boxing lesson but
was a dominating one-sided boxing performance from Joshua. AJ at times
was very impressive, sticking to his gameplan by not getting drawn
into a fight with the stocky, fat Mexican. Ruiz who came in much
heavier actually weighed in 280 pounds, almost close to 300 pounds.
Anthony Joshua and Kubrat Pulev were meant to square off initially in
October of 2017 before Bulgarian Pulev pulled out with an injury. 30
year-old Joshua would go on to fight late replacement Cameroon native
Carlos Takam whom Joshua went on to stop via a technical stoppage in
10 rounds which many observers in the crowd felt was a premature
stoppage including myself. Pulev was reinstated as the IBF mandatory
challenger after racking up three straight victories after beating
veteran American Kevin Johnson in 2017. Eddie Hearn promoter of
Anthony Joshua the head of Matchroom boxing and Pulev’s promoters top
rank had hoped the fight could be moved somewhere with a live crowd.
Eddie Hearn stated they were optimistic that the champion Joshua would
take on his challenger Pulev in front of some sort of audience.
Heavyweight kingpin Joshua has often sold-out stadiums across his home
country of the United Kingdom filling out stadiums in London and
Cardiff. This fight with Pulev may take place inside an arena most
likely, which could be the O2 Arena in London.
There is no confirmation as of now about the venue or location of the
fight, what we do know is Anthony Joshua is set to defend his titles
against challenger Kubrat Pulev on December 12. There is no official
announcement as of yet but after speaking to a boxing insider close
to Top Rank he told me the fight date is set both camps are good to go
they are just waiting for a venue and location before announcing an
official announcement with the full confirmation. The details
regarding the fight with the undercard and broadcaster of the event
will be announced at a later date. If Joshua wins his fight against
his IBF mandatory challenger Pulev he will be on a collision course
with his British rival, undefeated WBC, Ring Magazine, and Lineal
Heavyweight Champion Tyson Fury. Fury, regarded by many as the
consensus number one Heavyweight. Fury is the man in the way of
Joshua, in fulfilling his lifelong dream of becoming the Undisputed
Heavyweight Champion.
This much is clear the two marquee names at Heavyweight Anthony Joshua
and Tyson Fury will both have one more fight (assuming they both win)
before possible fighting each other sometime next year in a super
fight for all the marbles. Tyson Fury is set to fight former WBC
knockout king Deonay Wilder in a contractually obligated rematch later
this year, reports recently surfaced it may be pushed to early next
year depending on the live gate being available. American Wilder and
his team are still waiting for a crowd to be available so he can get
his fight with Tyson Fury out the way. Fury and his team are hesitant
to fight this year before the year is out with or without Dontay
Wilder. Both teams are waiting to find out when they can fight in
front of a crowd. What we do know is Joshua can not take his eyes off
the ball against Pulev. Joshua has to win his fight with Pulev, maybe
in emphatic fashion. Joshua knows bigger tests lie ahead with some big
career-defining fights on the horizon possible against Tyson Fury and
former undisputed Cruiserweight champion Alexander Usyk. Usyk who
takes on Dereck Chisora on October 31. Joshua will be a keen observer
on Halloween watching as Usyk takes on Chisora in the UK. will it be a
trick or treat for Anthony Joshua?. As we close out the year with the
clocks going backward at the end of the month, as winter season hits
the UK. All parties involved better fasten their seat belts, December
12 is fast looming especially for Joshua and Pulev ahead of their long-awaited showdown.
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