Crap fight. Another knockover job. Pulev hasn't stopped anyone since his 7th round KO of Bogdan Dinu in 2019, prior to that it was a Sam Peter quitjob in 2016. He's been outboxed and KO'd by Joshua in 2020 and lost a close one to old Chisora in 2022, with 17-19 months of inactivity after those losses, with these being the last credible opponents he fought. Even journeyman Wawrzyk of all HW's went the full 10 with him in 2023. In his prime he was floored by southpaw journeyman Abell and Wlad poleaxed him in 5 after 3 KD's, the only HW of top 10 ability Wlad ever KO'd inside 6 rounds. Pulev's best win since Hughie in 2018 is probably Jerry Forrest in 2022, a fairly decent journeyman but no more. Pulev has also never won in Britain as a pro (even losing a close decision he likely thought he should have got) and never won or even come close to winning as an underdog. He'd come into an Itauma fight knowing it's likely his last serious fight and a cash out. Itauma would look to drop him early, which has happened a good few times before.
The problem is there’s only a small pool of heavyweights to choose from. Ideally you’d want Itauma in with someone like Hrgovic.
I just saw a post saying he's agreed terms to fight Chisora? Back to subject matter Pulevs a crap shout and we'll probably learn nothing about Itauma from it.
Pulev was a knockover job in 2014 and simply the same zero test that Joshua faced years later. Will learn nothing knocking out a plodder with zero punch resistance.
The best wins of all time by 40+ heavyweights: Holmes (42) over Mercer, Foreman (45) over Moorer, Vitali (40) over Chisora, Povetkin (40) over Whyte, Zhang (40) over Joyce 2. The majority of these (3/5) were won by brutal KO. Does 44 year old Pulev have any chance? You'd have to say he doesn't, beyond an absurd DQ or the freakest or freak injuries.
It’s a crap fight yes, but just because they’ve ordered it doesn’t mean Itauma and his team are obliged to entertain it. I think they already have another opponent lined up for December.
Seems strange Pulev is even still going. He's never been an easy night for anyone (with maybe the exception of Wlad) but it's hard to Ituma not tuning him up here. Still would this get him a "world title" so he could break Tysons record. He's good but we don't how good - yet..
