Kubrat Pulev believes he will give Anthony Joshua 'second knockout of his life' and eyes world champion status

The Bulgarian Heavyweight believes he should not be overlooked and deems Anthony Joshua  'arrogant' for challenging Tyson Fury

Bulgarian heavyweight Kubrat Pulev (28-1 14KOS) believes he will defeat Anthony Joshua when a fight is rescheduled to take place, and insists that he can become champion and take on the other top heavyweights including Tyson Fury and Dillian Whyte. 

'The Cobra' has lost just once in his professional career to Wladimir Klitschko back in 2014, and has held the European heavyweight title twice between 2012 and 2016, and has challenged once for the unified world heavyweight title in 2014 against Klitschko.

Trained by Joe Goosens, the 39-year-old also posseses a superb amateur pedigree having won multiple medals at international tournaments, including gold at the 2008 European Championships and bronze at the 2005 World Championships, all in the super-heavyweight division.

Pulv remains confident that when a date is confirmed, he can cause an upset and defeat Anthony Joshua and underlined his feeling of readiness for a potential bout as soon as it arrives, staying fit in camp.

"In an interview via the Betway Insider blog, Pulev said: "We have one heavyweight champion [Joshua] and he is too slow all the time to agree a date. We understand the world pandemic and everything but I think we can fight this year and I prepare to do this - it does not matter where, which day, I’m ready, we are training and I wait for the date. December 5th is what we’ve heard and I hear London is favourite to host. We think London because maybe he is scared and he wants to fight there. Normally we can fight anywhere in the world not only in London - but for me it’s no problem, I can fight anywhere. I’m ready, I'm hungry, and I know I am going to win."

"I can’t train 100 per cent right now, because everything is not settled. But if the fight is fixed for December I will start concentrating on this fight one million percent. "In this world there’s a chance for anything to happen, but now nobody can say for sure when this fight happens. 

"But I think this fight will be this year, it’s absolutely possible."

The 6'4 heavyweight also stated that Joshua may be at a disadvantage if the bout is forced to take place without the presence of fans, and feels that he can capitalise on the two-time world champion's style.

"For him it will be a little bit different without his fans but this is a very manly sport, we can fight with the public or without the public, it does not matter. But maybe he needs the public.

"He is a very good boxer for sure, a world champion... and he has had a lot of good fights. But I see a lot of problems in his style and his boxing and I think I can use every small opening and I can beat him. I do think he has a problem with psychology. I think the fight has the same ending as with Andy Ruiz. I know that I will surprise the whole world with this fight. I will show boxing fans across the world that Joshua will go down because we will be bringing war."

"I stopped training because I was injured and he didn't believe me, he was a little bit arrogant. He said: ‘if I was Pulev I could box with this injury’, but it’s not so easy.It does not matter where it is, I’m ready - it’s just important to win. It doesn’t matter whether it’s on a boat, or in a stadium, in Europe, in the USA, or in Saudi Arabia, it doesn’t matter to me.This will be a win for my country as Bulgaria has never had a heavyweight champion of the world, this win will not only be for me but a win for all people from my country and I want to make them really happy."

"God showed us it’s not good to speak too much and that’s why he is now injured with his leg. I wait patiently and when he is ready and healthy, we can fight."

With reports of Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury agreeing a unification fight deal circling, the challenger believes that he has been entirely overlooked by the Briton, and thinks that the focus should be on his serious threat, as opposed to what the future holds.

"This is also very arrogant. Talking about Fury because he doesn't think about my fight, like last time with Ruiz. But life showed him that this is very bad when someone does that. That’s why he will take his second knockout of his life. We will show him and the whole world. 

"I’m now next in line for Fury and I think after AJ, I will fight with Tyson Fury because Joshua is going to lose and he does not think I’m a big problem - but I will show him really new things."

When questioned about the outcome of the fight between Dillian Whyte and Alexander Povetkin on August 22nd at Fight Camp, he spoke of his support for Alexander Povetkin, although stating it will be a very even contest

"It is a very interesting fight, they are both very good boxers. Povektin was a very good amateur. We know professional boxing is different and we know Whyte is a 100 percent professional boxer. I’m 50-50 but I hope Povetkin wins because I know him personally and he’s a really good man who does not talk too much.On the other hand, Dillian Whyte talks so much b******t. He is always twisting things up and talking b******t; talking talking, talking too much. I don’t like this.

I want to fight Whyte after I win with AJ, I want to fight with Dillian Whyte and I want to show him a very special KO. I promise him that."

"Original interview came via the Betway Insider blog, where you can find all the latest sporting insight and tips".

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