Does Pulev stand a chance?

No, he's getting KO'd in 3 rounds tops.

 

No, he's going to get bombed out.

 

Yes, you can't write him off completely as Pulev is no push over.

That being said Joshua has the right style to break Pulev down and make him hit the deck.

 

Pulev does not have much a a chance because he lacks punching power. His chin is ok so I think he will hang in there for a while. But I also think Joshua is way overrated based off beating a over the hill Wlad. ANd the sad thing is if Wlad was not so damn scared to get hit he could have finished Josuha after the knockdown. Joshua lacks a chin and he punches himself out easy. If I were coaching Pulev he should use that killer jab he has and attack Joshua's body. Joshua is open to the jab big time. If Pulev had a good right hand I would give him a chance.

 

One thing I like about Pulev he comes to fight. Wlad Knocked him out but at least he put up a fight and tried. ANd the version of Wlad was a lot better than Joshua at this point. That being said unless Pulev goes to the body I think Joshua wins. Joshua is still a p*ssy for ducking Ortiz. Ortiz would break Joshua down to the body and KO him with a uppercut.

 

Pulevs best case scenario is losing a UD.

 

pulev is easily joshuas second best opponent to this point. odds are joshua wins but it isn't written in stone.

 

Basically this. Pulev despite having a good jab doesn't punch hard enough to keep Joshua away, and he showed against Wlad that he doesn't have the defence to stay away from him long enough and the chin to survive Joshua's attacks.

 

I'm still not sold on Joshua being the next great heavyweight, but I will tell you this.

He can be dirty and a rule breaker. When hurt, he spat out his mouth piece, and the ref gave him a huge break ( not sure why a punch did not knock it out ) when he was on unsteady legs, allowing him time to recover when Wlad had him in trouble.

I think Joshua's chin is okay and heart is good. He might have some Andrew Golota fouling in him too, but I agree with you, he punches himself out and has some stamina management issues, possibly because he's too muscle bound.

Pulev is 36 now. He won many fights since being obliterated by Wlad. Can he win here?

If he's in shape, and he survives the first four rounds, I think he has a chance in rounds 7-12 make it a fight.

This fight is more about who Joshua is as Pulev is likely his 2nd or 3rd best opponent. Joshua's first best opponent was 41 years old and almost beat him. His second or third opponent ( Whyte ) stung Joshua to the point where he quickly fouled.

Joshua needs to win cleanly here.

 

Great post, as always.

 

Thanks. I am sold on Joshua's offensive ability. He's a very good puncher with great skills and good speed.

It would sort of suck if Pulev won, and Joshua crumbled away, leaving heavyweight fans Wilder, and Pulev as the champions, with Fury being fat as a rat living under a BBQ joint.

So for the sake of heavyweight boxing Joshua needs to win here, otherwise well get more Wilder like title fights vs. non top ten opponents for years.

 

Wlad finished Bumlev in 5 rounds so AJ has to do better than that. Then again Pulev has to do better than Molina who lasted 3 rounds against AJ. Round 4 TKO.

 

He stands no chance, none

 

Just saying WK had got rid of Joshua in 5 or 6 as he should have and this fight was for a vacant belt, would people be saying Pulev had no chance?

 

If Wlad did that then Joshua would not be as good as he actually is.