A one-way match for the British champion who hadn’t fought for a year, since he got back the crowns: the challenger to the mat already in the third round, up to the epilogue in the ninth
@sarcobelli
December 13
– Milano–
At the Wembley Arena in London (where he had not fought for two years and where he became Olympic champion in 2012 against Cammarelle with a controversial verdict), Anthony Joshua defeats Bulgarian challenger Kubrat Pulev by knockout at 2’58 “in the 9th round and confirms himself as champion world championship of the top Ibf, Wba, Wbo and Ibo. The fifth crown, the Wbc one, is now in the hands of Tyson Fury, the other British who remains suspended between the trilogy with the American Deontay Wilder and the “Battle of Britain” against Joshua: the challenge of the challenges in the top, the confrontation that everyone expects a colossal British derby in the ring. Meanwhile, the thirty-one-year-old AJ is confirmed with his 22nd knockout out of 24 career matches (only one defeat by Andy Ruiz), and after a very convincing challenge against the solid challenger outclassed. An impressive sequence of shots eventually destroy the Cobra. Joshua, who hadn’t fought since he regained the titles a year ago on points against Ruiz, is back the real Joshua, perhaps taking away the fear of some rust accumulated from inactivity. AJ has swept every doubt in every sense: from a boxing lesson to the expert opponent.
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It matches
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There are only a thousand spectators admitted to the London Arena for the Covid emergency; ringside Floyd Mayweather with his gold chains around his neck, but there is no Tyson Fury even though he has been invited to watch Cousin Hughie’s victorious match. Start by teasing with the left jab, the keeper. The two boxers prefer to study each other in the center of the ring. In the second round AJ loads the right uppercut which hits after a combination, and again uses the jab to win the second half. In the third, the Englishman’s right is precise and opens a devastating round: precise, ballistic, to the point of forcing Pulev to take refuge in the corner while the referee starts the count. A straight right and another, a right uppercut to the chin and Pulev goes knock-down. The match is scored. An extraordinary third round of the champion that marks the difference, while the Cobra does not seem to have guard but is tenacious in its ability to suffer, also overwhelmed by the personality of the champion. Collect Pulev and when he reacts, Joshua manages to dodge promptly, dodging admirably. Timing in defense too, not just when attacking. A dynamism in the ring, kissed by a sublime physical condition. In the fourth round, AJ tries to lower the pace also because he is in control of the match. Joshua’s left jab is always incisive even in the fifth round, a way to open and flush out the challenger again: the rival is still stunned and cannot find countermeasures even if he collects well. Pulev tries the measure but fails to build a truly effective combination: he finds an effective but isolated left hook. The Bulgarian shortens the distance but there is nothing to be done against the agility of the champion, with a clear advantage.
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Domain
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The refrain of the match does not change in half. Joshua does not seem at all stopped for a year without a match, he is brilliant and destructive with the riser even in the seventh time. The 39-year-old Cobra, who is on his second world attempt and has the experience of only one defeat from the former Ukrainian champion Wladimir Klitshchko, is unable to reverse the inertia of the match with the systematic control by his rival. Joshua doesn’t force the knockout and ends up suffering a right from Pulev. Another attempt that remains isolated and unproductive, even if the eighth is also the only round in his favor for scoring purposes. Four uprights in a row to the ninth do not seem to scratch the rival: indeed, up to 25 ”from the end of the round Pulev still goes down, resumes but goes down definitively in closing with the last masterful right upright. And it ends there. An inevitable knockout, even late, after such a dominated match. AJ comes out of the ring and goes quietly to greet Mayweather. Thus the star of the reconfirmed king of the top of all the acronyms was rekindled: “In boxing you have to talk little and do a lot, I did it” exclaims AJ with a hot shot alongside the manager and promoter Eddie Hearn. And now? There is already an agreement in principle for the challenge against Fury in 2021. “I’m 100% sure that the fight with Fury will take place, from tomorrow I will get to work” says Joshua’s promoter slyly. That simulates a nice last upright to the super smiling manager and ready to prepare the match of the matches in the maximum, to the big business of the ring. The match everyone wants. Joshua, meanwhile, gave a sample of his enormous qualities. Concrete, lively, relentless. And the fury is waiting for Fury by now.
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RESULTS – Maximum (World Wba, Wbo, Ibf, Ibo) Anthony Joshua (Gb, 24-1-0, 109,200 kg) b. Kubrat Pulev (Bul, 28-2-0, 108,700) ko 9; referee: Dwarte (Saf); judges: Montella (Ita), Ezekiev (Bul), Edwards (Gb).
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Light highs (vacante Wbo Intern.): Okolie (Gb, 15-0, 90,500) b. Jezewski (Pol, 19-1–1, 90,450) cat 2.
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Maximum: H. Fury (Gb, 25-3-0,112,100 ) b. Wach (Pol, 36-7-0, 123,400) p. 10 (100-90, 100-90, 99-91).
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Maximum (vacant Wbc International): Bakole (Con, 16-1-0, 113,780) b. Kuzmin (Rus, 15-2-0, 117,100) p. 10 (98-92, 97-93, 96-94).
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Superwelter: Conway (Gb, 16-1-1, 71,900) b. McGowan (Gb, 14-2-1, 72,380) p. 10 (100-90, 100-89, 100-89).
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Welter: Marku (Alb, 7-0-1, 66,700) c. J.Stewart (Gb, 2-0-1, 66,200) pari 8.
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Super bantamweight: Ashfaq (Gb, 9-1-0, 56,350) b. Lane (Gb, 14-10-2, 55,500) kot 7.
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December 13, 2020 (change December 13, 2020 | 02:37)
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