Pulev of the Fury fight v Tubbs who won the title ( or even the version that fought Bowe) I'm kinda trying to get a handle on the strength of some in the division now versus the era I relate too best.
Tubbs would EASILY outbox Pulev for a UD. Pulev brings nothing to the table that would trouble Tubbs. Tubbs is faster, busier, quicker of both hands and feet, and a more skilled boxer both offensively and defensively. Pulev does not have the power to dent a pre-cocaine Tubbs. Not even the heavy version of Tubbs that lost to Tyson.
I largely agree with this, and would add that Pulev's best weapon is his jab, which he would be putting against that of Tubbs, which has been described as being like a rapier. The one thing that I always jump in and defend Pulev about, is that he does have power, it is just a very strange power that is mostly contained in that jab. He lacks a big power punch, but stopped Dimentenko and Ustinov both with the jab alone, and rocked Wladdy down to his socks with the openly jab of their fight. I am not really sure what to make of it, and I think prime Tubbs can handle it, but Pulev has power in my book. Why no one every helped him develop a good follow up right cross is a mystery to me.
Two similar featherfisted fighters with questionable chin. Tubbs has better wins (Page,Smith) but after the Bowe fight Tony humiliated own achievement. But the Bowe version Tubbs looks popular nowadays.
