He would have to KO Joshua and pulev is far too feather fisted to do that. Look at his record, its pretty bad.
It's simply not going to happen. AJ got caught blind by hooks to the side of the head by Ruiz after thinking he had him.. I can't see Pulev landing those kind of shots at all.. He can cause some trouble with his jab.. But it's not enough
I don't think he has many advantages, judges, crowd (all 2k of them) ref all likely in his opponent favour, but one is that he doesn't need to please anyone. AJ has a brand to protect and after the Ruiz JR fights he must want to get back to looking good as well as winning. Pulev therefore spoils the fight and brings Joshua on to him early. He has an excellent jab which he needs to use to frustrate AJ. Then it's a case of walking him on to something. Make it a messy war and don't try to go the distance. Make it happen early or not at all.
Who knows what Pulev has left, but if he has any handspeed, timing, and his legs are still good I can see him giving Joshua a very hard time. Joshua’s kryptonite is that he still doesn’t move his head and his footwork can get very predictable at times, so Pulev’s best bet is to get Joshua to walk into his shots, keep Joshua in the center of the ring with his footwork, and wear the young man down.
i cant lol. joshua is all wrong for pulev. if pulev had a quality right hand with his jab then i could.
Pulev lands a hard jab in the first round, opening a fight ending cut above Joshua eye. Joshua goes for the kill knowing the fight is in the balance, Pulev gets dropped, has points deducted for excessive holding but somehow survives, Joshua is stopped on cuts, Pulev is declared the winner. Other than some freakish scenario like that I can't see how Pulev wins. Joshua is known to be susceptible to the left hook, as we've seen vs Whyte, Wlad and Ruiz Jr, that's not a punch Pulev is known for and even if it was, he doesn't have the power to hurt Joshua badly enough to force a stoppage. Pulev's style poses very few problems for Joshua. He has no inside game so Joshua won't be scared to trade like vs Ruiz, Pulev clinching will easily be negated by Joshua use of the forearm and sheer strength and Pulev isn't even that great a mover and usually backs up in straight lines so I can't see how he'll maintain distance.
Here is the best case I can make for Pulev. 1. Wlad implied Pulev was more skilled than AJ (interview during first scheduled fight, Pulev has the skill, AJ the power). 2. Pulev is definitely mentally and physically tougher. Compare how he rose from many KD's versus Wlad and went out on his shield to AJ quitting against Ruiz. 3. Pulev has a better engine. 4. Pulev has more experience. 5. Pulev likely has more hunger. Never been a Bulgarian HW champion, last chance etc. 6. Pulev has a better jab. 7. Pulev has only lost to Wlad. So it isn't as though he has no advantages, that's just a myth. His advantages just aren't the eye-catching ones. The path to victory must be out toughing and out lasting AJ, grinding him down and breaking him, all while avoiding getting KO'd. When AJ is gassed and hurting and ready to quit like the other Brit-brands Yarde and Dubious, Pulev can TKO him. He may not have the biggest punch but he's still a HW and put Ustinov out pretty well, who is massive.
Pulev will be welcomed into the bomb squad with open arms if he dismantles that phony bodybuilder. Will be a cobra fan for the night only when he pummles Joshua with his trademark mummified jab!
You have no idea what this would cause in Bulgaria & Pulev knows that. Honestly, wouldn't be surprised if he pulls the upset. I really hope to, as a Bulgarian myself. BUT it is Joshua in his backyard, and he already slipped once against Ruiz.
Joshua has a slow start because he's wary of another Ruiz accident. Pulev on the contrary comes throwing bombs from the first bell and lands a devastating right hand on that fragile mandible during the first 30 seconds in the fight. That's all she wrote.