Anthony Joshua v Kubrat Pulev: Cardiff to host heavyweight bout on 28 October

Last updated on .From the section Boxingcomments130

Anthony Joshua
Joshua has 19 wins by knockout from 19 fights

Britain's Anthony Joshua will defend his IBF and WBA heavyweight world titles against Bulgaria's Kubrat Pulev at Cardiff's Principality Stadium on 28 October.

The bout comes six months after Joshua stopped Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley Stadium in April, to add the WBA title to the IBF belt he claimed in 2016.

Pulev, 36, is the mandatory challenger for Joshua's IBF title.

"I have been eager to get back in the ring since Wembley," said Joshua, 27.

"I'll be locked away focusing on fight number 20 for the next eight weeks. I am excited to experience the atmosphere in a sold out Principality Stadium and aim to give the fans a spectacular night."

Klitschko delivered the only defeat of Pulev's 26-fight career in 2015 but the Bulgarian has since won five fights in a row, taking him to a position as the IBF's mandatory challenger.

"Anthony is a formidable opponent," said Pulev.

"We will not hug and hold, we will not run; we will stand and fight. His style fits mine perfectly and in boxing, styles make fights.

"My preparation will be very intense and I will be perfectly ready when I enter the ring so that he will have no chance to beat me."

Joshua has 19 wins from 19 fights while Pulev has won 25 of his 26 bouts, 13 via knockout
Joshua has 19 wins from 19 fights while Pulev has won 25 of his 26 bouts, 13 via knockout

Hearn has said that Joshua's aim is to face Pulev before meeting Cuban Luis Ortiz, the mandatory challenger for his WBA title - stressing that Joshua does not want to vacate either of his belts and would rather defend them before hopefully facing WBC title holder Deontay Wilder of the United States in the summer of 2018.

The heavyweight division's fourth recognised title is held by New Zealand's Joseph Parker, who defends the WBO belt against Briton Hughie Fury in Manchester on 23 September.

Joshua's meeting with Pulev is set to be the fourth night of boxing held at Wales' national stadium.

Matt Skelton overcame Danny Williams for the Commonwealth heavyweight title there in 2006, while Wales' Joe Calzaghe had two wins in front of his home crowd, against Peter Manfredo and Mikkel Kessler in 2007.

Dereck Chisora and Kubrat Pulev
Pulev has never fought in the UK but has beaten Britons Dereck Chisora (pictured), Matt Skelton and Michael Sprott

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130 comments

  • Taking on your mandatory challenger isn't fighting some 'bum' - taking a voluntary against the 8th ranked is a road more often traveled, but AJ isn't ducking anyone. If anything the issue is more in finding opponents who are willing to be punched in the face with a sledgehammer for a few million quid. I'm available March 24th 2018 though if he's struggling...

  • Ahhh finally, a fight of class to REALLY look forward to... rather than another charade like Mayweather vs McGregor. COME ON JOSHUA!

  • Good form by AJ ... Facing the mandatories before going after the big kiwi

  • Lmao!!.. another English sportsperson winning and most hate it..just the same either Lewis. ..

    Get behind and support...

  • Some of these comments make me laugh! "Stop fighting bums, AJ"..."Unify the division AJ"...

    If AJ is to unify the division, he has to have all the belts. In order to keep the belts he already has, he has to fight the mandatory challengers. Why do people not get this?? I think he deserves credit for wanting to keep belts and not just dump them in the bin like so many "champions" in the past.

  • @28. This is a mandatory defence for him. He has to fight him or lose the IBM belt. Will be an interesting fight. Pulev is a voyage technical boxer. AJ will need to keep his discipline or Pulev will frustrate him and could cause an upset

  • No rush for AJ to dominate the division. Granted I think he will unify the belt at some point but he is still young and learning. Whilst not a super fight it is quite refreshing for a boxer to fight a mandatory challenger as that is what the rankings are for. DW is the fight in his head but how many fighters have come unstuck by looking too many fights ahead. Rahman for example, Keep learning AJ.

  • Wow that's pretty short notice, c'mon AJ let's unify this division!

  • This'll be an extremely difficult fight for Joshua, and if he's not at his absolute best he'll lose - Pulev is a top class boxer, and isn't quite over the hill just yet. Parker Fury later this month will also be a cracking fight, I've got a feeling Fury could edge that if he really has sorted out his physical issues. Either way it's great to have some proper heavy weight fights to look forward to.

  • Even though this is a mandatory, don't think it'll be a walk in the park. This guy's only loss was to an in-form Klitschko! He's a great competitor and Anthony will have to be his best again to get another win. Let's go AJ.

  • 86. CDawg on

    Oh look another pathetic fight. A feeble old man for AJ to bully.

    AJ needs to be tested for once and the only man to do that is Connor Mcgregor

    -------------------------------------

    First off, it's Conor McGregor. Secondly, Conor fights at around 70KG. Joshua tips the scales at around 113Kg. If Joshua hit McGregor they'd feel the punch back in Dublin.

  • So many stupid comments about the fight being a mismatch, mandatory means fight them or lose the belt...

  • So many comments by people who are clueless about boxing... that and not understanding what the word "mandatory" means.

    AJ has to fight him next otherwise he'll lose his IBF belt. You don't get to be a mandatory challenger unless you're actually good. Just because you've never heard of him doesn't mean he's going to be a "bum".

  • Bring back the good old days when it was one weight one belt...

  • Before anyone starts thinking that pulev is a nobody and aj is gonna pummel through him, don't get your hopes up. This is not going to be easy for aj against anyone from now on. Pulev is an olympic gold medallist I believe, and has only lost to wlad (A just past prime wlad) so he is no easy night. I wouldn't be surprised if this goes to points. AJ should get through and win but it won't be easy.

  • This will be another tough test for AJ, but one that he should overcome with ease. The tougher fights are yet to come but his dream of unifying the division is all down to one fight. DW is THE fight. All this talk of T Fury sadly will not go anywhere beyond talk, he was great with what he did, but I don't think he can ever get to his peak again sadly.

  • I went to watch AJ's last fight. If the tickets are reasonably priced then I may go to this one as well. Can't see it going more than four rounds so it will need to be a decent undercard for people to get value for money...

  • An exciting turn of events! It's fair enough and also sensible that AJ should fight the two mandatorys Pulev and Ortiz before going for other belts, not just to get some ring time but to silences the doubters questioning his credentials.After that hopefully Fury will take the WBO and face Wilder before the big unification fight next summer. Please everyone stop with the Tyson Fury talk, it's over

  • Pulev is a smart hungry boxer I expect a tough test for Joshua his second toughest fight after Klitschko who only lost because age caught up with him

  • Can we stop with the McGregor nonsense now? He stepped in to the ring and was rightly schooled! Great MMA fighter but he can't box, end of!

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