Joshua vs Pulev: All you need to know about Kubrat Pulev
Tuesday 26 September 2017 12:15, UK
Kubrat Pulev is the next man to challenge Anthony Joshua, on October 28, live on Sky Sports Box Office. Here are a few things you may not have known about the Bulgarian 'Cobra'...
Where does Pulev come from?
The 36-year-old, known as 'The Cobra', was born in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria on May 4, 1981.
Is he a star in Bulgaria then?
He is exactly that. Walk through an airport and apparently you are likely to see posters of him. Well, he was voted the country's No 1 sportsman in January, so yes.
The retirement of Dimitar Berbatov clearly helped, but he also came ahead of world top 10 tennis star Grigor Dimitrov, too. Promoter Kalle Sauerland, who has been with him from the very start, insists a rematch with Joshua in Bulgaria could draw a crowd of 250,000.
Has Bulgaria produced any other decent boxers?
An obvious one is at amateur level, Serafim Todorov. He was the last man to beat Floyd Mayweather, in the semi-final of the 1996 Olympics, at bantamweight. The 10-9 decision caused uproar, not least from Mayweather and not least because the referee raised the American's arm first. Todorov had to settle for silver in the final.
How was Pulev's amateur background? Is it as good as AJ's?
Pretty decent, although he didn't win an Olympic gold medal. He was the unfortunate first reserve for 2004, despite winning the final qualifying tournament. He made it to 2008 but went out in the first round.
What else did he win then?
His highlight was probably winning bronze in the 2005 World Amateur Championships in China. He joined the long list of amateurs to lose to Odlanier Solis in the semis.
He got another bronze in the 2006 European Championships and in 2007, went one step further and struck gold in Liverpool. In September 2009, he tried again to be crowned World Amateur champion, but lost to Roberto Cammarelle and immediately turned pro.
I've been with him since he turned professional. He's told me by the time he’s heavyweight champion of the world, he’ll be fluent in English - and that will be this year.
Where have I heard Roberto Cammarelle's name before?
Well, he was the man who Joshua beat to claim gold at London 2012. The Italian was the holder but lost via count-back with the scores at 18-18. The rest, as they say, is history.
Who else has he fought that we've heard of?
Plenty of big names and big talkers. His fifth fight as a professional saw him defeat Matt Skelton. He's beaten two 'AJ' victims, Michael Sprott (2012) and Kevin Johnson (last fight), along with Dereck Chisora. He fell short in his IBF title fight with Wladimir Klitschko in November 2014, but has also beaten world title challenger Tony Thompson and ex-WBC champion Samuel Peter.
What happened against Klitschko?
Well, he had worked his way up the IBF rankings and at 20-0 he went over to Altona, Germany. Pulev seemed intent on taking it to Klitschko - which no one had managed to do for years - and a lethal left counter ended it in the fifth. It also ended Pulev's long-standing relationship with trainer Otto Ramin.
Pulev fought a good fight. It was hard to work, the left jab. Pulev prepared well.
So who is in charge of him now?
German coach Ulli Wegner. The hugely experienced 75-year-old is one of Europe's most successful trainers and has previously passed on his tactical knowledge and ring discipline to world champions Sven Ottke, Arthur Abraham and Marco Huck.
I know Wegner on a coach level and he drills his boys into the ground. I actually think the training is harder than the fight.
What happened after the Klitschko loss?
He met 'Del Boy'! After a couple of warm-up fights, he took on Chisora for the European title he had won back in 2012. There was a ruck in the press conference, Tyson Fury turned up to cheer on 'Del Boy' at ringside, but Pulev stood firm and took a split decision 116-112, 118-110, 113-115.
Did that set up his second world title fight then?
It almost did, back in November, 2016, against Joshua. The IBF champion had a voluntary and discussions began between Eddie Hearn and the Sauerlands, but it never went any further. American Eric Molina got the gig in December instead, suffering a third-round stoppage loss to Joshua.
So how has he become Joshua's mandatory challenger?
After he stopped Samuel Peter in three rounds in a WBA eliminator, the Sauerlands switched their sights to the IBF belt as he had moved back up the rankings.
He cemented his position by beating Kevin Johnson on points the day before Joshua vs Klitschko. "We had five or six names on our list, but no one wanted to fight Pulev. Johnson is a nightmare to fight, but Kubrat knew where the win would take him."
What else can you tell us about him?
Pulev is with one of Bulgaria's biggest stars, pop-folk singer Andrea. She has picked up loads of awards and who knows, she could well sing the Bulgarian national anthem 'Mila Rodino' before the first bell sounds.
Watch Joshua vs Pulev, live from the Principality Stadium, Cardiff, on Saturday, October 28, live on Sky Sports Box Office.
