Anthony Joshua has been warned to prepare for a brawl by Kubrat Pulev, after the Bulgarian was confirmed as the Londoner’s next opponent for his WBA and IBF heavyweight championship belts.
Joshua, who has not fought since getting off the floor to stop Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley Stadium in April, will be an overwhelming favourite when he faces the 36-year-old Pulev at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on 28 October.
However, the 6ft 4in Bulgarian, who has won 25 of his 26 fights, with 13 stoppages, insists he will be in shape to cause a massive upset. “Anthony is a formidable opponent,” he said. “But we will not hug and hold, we will not run; we will stand and fight. His style fits mine perfectly and in boxing, styles make fights. My preparation will be very intense, and I will be perfectly ready when I enter the ring so that he will have no chance to beat me.”
The bookmakers, unsurprisingly, take a different view. They make Joshua a 1-25 favourite to record a 20th straight knockout against his IBF mandatory challenger. And with good reason. Pulev was blasted out by Klitschko when he fought for the world title in November 2014 and since then he has fought only three times – winning uninspiring points victories over Derek Chisora and Kevin Johnson and stopping the over-the-hill Samuel Peter.
Certainly Joshua appears confident of an easy night. “October 28 can’t come soon enough. I have been eager to get back in the ring since Wembley and now we are confirmed and ready,” he said. “I’ll be locked away focusing on fight number 20 for the next eight weeks. I am excited to experience the atmosphere in a sold out Principality Stadium and aim to give the fans a spectacular night.”
