Tony Thompson vs. Kubrat Pulev

I agree he is underrated and I think he will beat Pulev fairly easy. Pulev is all hype. He has not even fought a top 10 fighter yet everyone is writing off TT once again. SOme even claim Pulev will KO TT even tho he could not even KO glass chin Travis Walker.

 

That wasn't really a "loss" - it was a four round decision that could have gone to either fighter. Thompson had little experience at that time, it was just his 5th fight.

 

In this voluntary poll (which is what all these are), w/more than 120 responses, Pulev is holding steady at 8:3 in his favor*.

This makes him a solid, but not prohibitive favorite over TT. I wonder how close this would match a good betting line?


* not counting the evenly matched

 

This fight has now been officially approved by the IBF as a final eliminator.

Three matchups of top ten HWs coming up:

Wlad-Povetkin
Fury-Haye
Thompson-Pulev

:good

 

Can't wait for this one. I'm backing Tony T because I always support any guy my age still in competitive sport, and I think TT's a good guy.

 

I can't see Pulev losing this.

Fans are too impressionable based on what they've most recently seen. Nobody has seen much of Pulev lately, and Thompson just doubled up on his exposure of what had been a major unbeaten prospect - so of course some are going to favor Thompson.

Really, though. No.

Besides experience and maybe power (and only slightly) Thompson has no significant advantages. Pulev is nearly as tall. Pulev has the better jab. Pulev has the faster hands, and can get around easier.

Yes, Pulev showed he is human and buckled a bit when hit by Ustinov and Walker - but those are both huge punchers (which Thompson simply isn't, despite Price making him seem like one) against whom he got lazy and showed no respect due to how easily he was outclassing them. He will approach the cagier Thompson differently than he did them...and even it Thompson connects, don't expect Pulev to be affected the way Price was.

 

Daaamn this is a nice match!

 

Agreed, top five among non-championship matches that can reasonably be made between HW contenders.

 

Good fight on paper but might a be a stinker thou.

 

The politically correct term is "one for the diehard purists".

...but yeah, likely not a barn-burner. :yep I'll enjoy it even if they're jabbing timidly at each other for twelve straight. :good

 

Yep, awesome matchups that make any HW boxing fan's mouth salivate. Let's hope the winners of these fights fight each other early 2014.

 

Good HW fights in store.
I'd like to see Thompson win buts its better for the division if Pulev takes it.
Where are they fighting?

 

Germany on 8-24 on the Brahmer and Abraham card.

 

+1

 

I think Thompson's age and slower reflexes will show in the fight.